Be alert, prepare for floods

Photo: Nicholas Johansen

The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre is warning people living near creeks and streams to take proactive measures to protect their property.

The warning is specifically aimed at those residents who have historically experienced flooding.

Municipalities and the regional district only protect public infrastructure. Private property owners are responsible for protecting their own properties.

"Freshet is underway with peak runoff flows from higher elevation snow melt to the valley bottom estimated to occur within the next three weeks," the EOC stated in a public release.

"With warmer weather being experienced, and rainfall in the forecast, residents are asked to be alert, and more importantly, to prepare as these factors can affect the risk of flooding."

People living along Okanagan Lake are not at a risk of flooding. The EOC says the lake is not expected to be a concern at this time.

Mitigation efforts have been underway throughout the Central Okanagan for some time in anticipation of this year's snow melt.

These include extensive mitigation along Mill Creek. Current work on the creek is expected to be complete within a few days.

The EOC says crews will now need to access some private properties in order to further protect public infrastructure.

To do this, a local State of Emergency for Mill Creek to allow that access.

For residents who have not yet picked up sand or sandbags, they are available at numerous locations around the Central Okanagan.

Click here for a list of locations. Sand and sandbags are also now available at Rowcliffe Park in Kelowna.