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North Okanagan

Sicamous evacuation alert expanded

by Grant Scott - Story: 77002
Jun 25, 2012 / 3:53 pm

Update:  The evacuation alert in Sicamous has expanded to included residents living on Silver Sands Road, Beach Road, all other areas north of Highway 1 and south of Eagle River.

The Shuswap Emergency Program has issued the alert due to high water levels in the Shuswap Lake and because of potential health problems caused by the lack of potable water.  There has also been a disruption of sewage disposal utilities. 

A State of Local Emergency has been declared in the 2 mile area near Sicamous and an evacuation order is being enforced by the RCMP.

Heavy rainfall received Saturday, June 23 caused the Sicamous Creek channel to be diverted and a new channel created affecting residents and businesses in the 2 Mile area.

A State of Local Emergency has also been declared in Swansea Point and an evacuation order is in effect after Hummingbird Creek breached its banks and dispersed through Swansea Point.

The Shuswap Emergency Program has set up a Reception Centre at the Sicamous Seniors Centre located at 1091 Shuswap Avenue, Sicamous.

Those residents requiring assistance are asked to report there.

A warning has been issued to boaters that there is extensive debris in the water and extreme care is required.

For further information, please contact the Shuswap Emergency Program at 250-833-3350 or www.sepadvisory.com.

The flooding which has closed Highway 97A near Sicamous is also wreaking havoc on homes and businesses nearby as the rushing water consumes vehicles, cottages and houses, forcing residents to evacuate.

The District of Columbia-Shuswap says as residents and businesses in the 2 mile area were affected by the flooding, the RCMP conducted a tactical evacuation of all residents in danger.

Officials evacuated 33 people after rain-swollen creeks spilled their banks.

Gord Molendyk, Information Officer for the North Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre, says reports are coming in of several homes experiencing flooding in the Kingfisher and Mabel lake Rd area.

"We currently have crews checking out reports of trees effecting flows and causing flooding on Kingfisher. There is a second report of a Forest Service Rd in the Mabel Lake area also being effected." says Molendyk.

At this point no evacuation orders have been issued for any homes in the North Okanagan Regional District.

One person reports that Sicamous Falls outside of Sicamous at Two Mile are "going crazy."

Their video shows water rushing in a torrent hundreds of feet wide and flooding property and buildings in its path.

They say nearby Waterways Houseboats has flooded as the water comes up and over the creek.

Just a few kilometres away, there's more flooding near Swansea Point which has closed the highway and left Hummingbird Resort near Mara Lake surrounded by water.

As well, there are reports that power is out and cell phone service is also affected in the area.

Meanwhile, the BC River Forecast Centre says a flood watch remains in effect for much of the BC interior.

They have issued watches for the Okanagan, Shuswap, Kootenay and Thompson regions.

A Flood Watch means that river levels are rising and will approach or may exceed bankfull and that flooding of areas adjacent to waters could happen at a moments notice.

The District of Sicamous, as a precautionary measure to avoid health risks, is advising water users to use bottled water or an alternate source of water for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, bathing, and food preparation until further notice.

The District says that boiling the water will not make it safe and the water in your hot water tank may also be unsafe.

They also advise residents to only use water from Interior Health approved sources.
 

If you have photos or video of the flood send them to news@castanet.net also contact us if your property has been flooded.

Video: Kelly Hayes - Castanet

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