The Coldwater River rose swiftly and began flooding Merritt on Nov. 15, 2021, amid rainfall in the area.

Image Credit: FACEBOOK/Brodie McDonald

The City of Merritt is getting more than $24 million from the province to rebuild after flooding wiped out some roads, utilities and homes last year.

The B.C. Ministry of Municipal Affairs is splitting a $53.6 million fund among ten struggling communities hit by the flooding in November, according to a ministry news release.

Part of the grant will help build temporary homes for people that lost theirs in the floods, but it will also help with future planning and infrastructure projects.

When the Coldwater River breached its banks in November, it flooded homes, several roadways and even collapsed the Voght Street bridge in the Nicola Valley city.

READ MORE: Merritt considering 3D printer to help build homes for evacuees

The entire city was forced to evacuate because the flood damaged its water treatment plant.

"This funding enables us to commence housing projects that will support hundreds of people and to construct infrastructure where we never could have afforded adequate recovery on our own. Each day, we will work and grow stronger as a community, and soon, so many of our residents will be able to come home," mayor Linda Brown said in the release.

Along with funding for the City of Merritt, the Thompson Nicola Regional District is getting a $150,000 grant from the ministry. The district will be partially responsible for recovery along the heavily damaged Highway 8.

While its a provincial highway, homes through the valley and in Spences Bridge are within the regional district boundaries.

READ MORE: 'We knew this would happen': Merritt resident raised alarm on Coldwater dikes

To the south, Princeton is getting $11.9 million to help with its flood recovery.

Much of downtown was decimated by flooding when the Tulameen River overflowed its banks, forcing people to evacuate.

The remaining funds will be dispersed to Abbotsford, Chilliwack and other communities in the Fraser and Cowichan valleys.

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“The November floods were a stark reminder of the climate crisis and the impacts extreme weather events are having on people and our communities,” Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs, said in the release. “Our government is committed to ensuring local governments and their residents have access to the resources they need to recover, including housing in the medium term, while we work to develop long-term solutions to better protect people and communities.”

— With files from the Canadian Press

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