Heavy rain in forecast prompts more work to prevent flooding

With heavy rains in the forecast for today to Friday, Kelowna residents will see BC Wildfire Service crews and contractors working in areas at high risk of flooding to put additional precautionary measures in place.

In a release Tuesday, the Central Okanagan’s emergency operations centre specifically mentioned the area along Mission Creek between Lakeshore Road and Okanagan Lake.

A state of local emergency was expanded city-wide for Kelowna on Monday, providing crews access to specific private properties to protect public infrastructure, says the emergency operations centre.

Local states of emergency also remain in place for Peachland and West Kelowna, and in the Central Okanagan’s West Electoral Area in the area of Westside Road North from 5625 Westside Rd. to the regional boundary.

Flood prevention and mitigation efforts are underway throughout the region as officials continue to monitor roads, culverts, weather, creeks and streams. Bulman Road in Kelowna remains closed due to overland flooding.

The emergency operations centre is asking property owners near creeks and streams — especially those who may have experienced flooding in the past — to prepare. Self-serve sand and sandbags are available across the Central Okanagan.

For up-to-date information, including evacuation alerts and orders that remain in place, as well as flood-preparedness resources, sign up for e-updates, visit cordemergency.ca, or call the information line at 250-469-8490 or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).

Meanwhile, in the North Okanagan, BX Creek Trail (behind BX Dog Park) and BX Creek Falls trail at Tillicum and Silver Star Road remain closed due to rising water levels.

The regional district says warm weather over the past few days has increased snowmelt and rainfall amounts of up to 30 millimetres are expected, causing basins, creeks and streams throughout the North Okanagan to swell.

Signs have been posted along BX Creek Falls Trail and the back of BX Dog Park, along BX Creek, to identify closed sections. Residents are encouraged to follow all notices for their own safety.