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UPDATE: 2:30 p.m.
The City of Kelowna has declared a local state of emergency due to threats to property resulting from isolated flooding along Mission Creek, Scotty Creek and the upper portions of Mill Creek.
Officials with the Emergency Operations Centre indicate more rain than expected has fallen in the mountains and valleys over the past 24 hours, swelling creeks and streams.
The areas affected include:
- Radant Road (closed)
- Parsons Road (open to local traffic)
- Bulman Road (closed)
- KLO Road at the KLO Bridge between Leader and Spiers Roads has intermittent closures due to the clearing of debris. Two staff are working 24 hours a day to ensure debris is cleared. Flaggers are also on site to direct traffic.
- Casorso Road at Swamp Road is currently experiencing running water across the road, but the road remains open at this time. Motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible and plan their routes accordingly.
City crews are out inspecting bridges, looking for debris and monitoring water levels.
Property owners in areas prone to flooding are reminded they are responsible for protecting their properties.
Sand and sandbags have been deployed to Radant and Parsons roads. Other residents concerned about flooding can pick up sand and sandbags from the Capital News Centre.
The state of emergency, valid for seven days, given the local government specific authority necessary to respond to the emergency including acquiring or using land necessary to respond to the emergency, evacuating people and animals that may be affected by the emergency, or removing trees or structures necessary to prevent or respond to the emergency.
UPDATE: 1:30 p.m.
The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre will be holding a media availability regarding the Mission Creek flood.
The event will take place at Kelowna Fire Station No. 1 at 2:30 p.m.
Castanet will stream the update live on our site.
UPDATE 12:22 p.m.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan has closed KLO Regional Park along with the previously announced closures of underpasses and a section along the Mission Creek Greenway. Those closures will continue until water levels recede and damage can be assessed and repairs completed.
Sandbags have no been made available for RDCO electoral area residents. Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West electoral area property owners may pick up sandbags at:
- Ellison Fire Department – Station 61 – 4411 Old Vernon Road
- Joe Rich Fire Rescue
- Station 51 – 11481 Highway 33
- Station 52 – 6550 Goudie Road
- Wilson’s Landing Fire Department – 2396 Westside Road
“Property owners are responsible for having an emergency plan and the tools and equipment needed to protect their properties. As well, in these areas they are responsible for providing their own sand and filling the bags,” says a news release from the RDCO.
Sand and bags have been available since March for North Westside residents to proactively protect their properties in an area with increased overland flooding risk after last year’s White Rock Lake wildfire. Self-serve sand and sandbag stations are available at two North Westside fire halls:
- Killiney Beach main hall Station 101 – 514 Udell Road
- Westside Road Station 102 - 7355N Westside Road North
Residents are responsible for filling sandbags to use in protecting their property. The supply will be replenished as needed.
Property owners in the Central Okanagan East and Central Okanagan West electoral areas are encouraged to check ditches and driveway access culverts to ensure proper runoff. If you have any concerns, they are advised to contact AIMRoads 1-866-222-4204.
UPDATE 10:38 a.m.
The Emergency Operations Centre has been activated by the Regional District of central Okanagan.
“Over the past 24 hours, the Kelowna area has seen more rain than expected in the mountains and the valley, which has led to rising water levels in creeks and streams. There has been isolated flooding in Kelowna near Mission Creek and at the airport. The Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre has been activated,” says a statement from Central Okanagan Emergency Operations.
Radant and Bulman Roads are closed until further notice. The southwest corner of the long-term parking at the airport is experiencing some flooding and 20 vehicles are being relocated. KLO Road has intermittent closures due to the clearing of debris.
“Motorists should also be aware that Casorso Road at Swamp Road is currently experiencing running water across the road, but the road remains open at this time. Motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible and plan their routes accordingly.”
City of Kelowna crews are inspecting bridges and looking for debris in the areas and are monitoring the water levels and the weather.
Property owners in flood prone and low-lying areas are responsible for protecting their own properties from possible flood damage.
“Sand and sandbags have been deployed to the Radant Road area at this time. If warranted, sand and sandbags may be deployed in other areas, and pick up locations will be posted on CORDEmergency.ca.
Who to call:
- To report an emergency, including threat of life, call 9-1-1.
- To report a flooding concern or potential problem (non-emergency) contact your local public works department.
- City of Kelowna: 250-469-8600
- City of West Kelowna: 778-797-1000
- District of Lake Country: ?250-766-5650
- District of Peachland: 250-767-2108
- Westbank First Nations: 250-707-0493
Some ways residents can get prepared:
- Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit
- Place your important documents and identification on an upper floor in a sealed plastic bag
- Know where the water and power shut off are in your house
- Have an evacuation plan, including for your pets
- If you have to use a pump, do not pump into the sanitary sewer system
Residents are also reminded to review insurance available for their property – some coverage is available for overland flow, groundwater damage is typically not covered.
UPDATE 9:15 a.m.
Portions of the Mission Creek Greenway recreational trail are closed due to rising water levels in the creek.
“Until Mission Creek returns to a safe level and our staff can safely assess trail conditions, the Greenway corridor is closed from the Hollywood Road south entrance at the Peck Road parking area upstream to the Field Road entrance,” said RDCO Communications Officer Bruce Smith.
The underpasses at the Truswell/Lakeshore, Gordon Drive and Casorso Road bridges are all closed.
“Pedestrians and cyclists on the Greenway are asked to use caution and only cross when it is safe at the intersections at Truswell Road, Lexington Drive and Casorso Road. Motorists are also asked to watch for Greenway users who may be crossing roads in these areas while the underpasses are closed,” added Smith.
Regional Parks staff are monitoring the creek along the greenway and Scenic Canyon regional park recreational corridor.
Until the water recedes, people should stay out of the closed areas and respect all closure signs.
UPDATE 8:48 a.m.
The City of Kelowna is in the process of assessing the flood situation across the city Tuesday morning.
Sandra Follack, Central Okanagan regional emergency program coordinator, tells Castanet that debris build-up where Mission Creek intersects with roadways is causing some concern. A debris pileup at KLO is forcing the water dangerously close to overflowing the bridge.
"If people see something going on that we don't know about call it in to the City of Kelowna's Public Works Deptarment, otherwise just stay clear of low lying water."
Follack says sandbagging is underway at Lakeshore and Radent Rd., "we don't think there is any need for anything else at this time, it's more watching what Mission Creek is doing."
ORIGINAL 6:44 a.m.
Kelowna's Mission Creek has spilled its banks as rain continues to fall and high streamflow advisories remain in place across much of B.C.
Residents awoke to find the creek had risen two feet overnight.
Reader photos show flooded yards, streets and parking lots in the Lakeshore Road area.
Meanwhile, rivers and creeks across the region are flowing faster as water levels rise.
The River Forecast Centre issued high streamflow advisories Monday across the Okanagan, Boundary and Similkameen, and similar advisories remain for the Thompson region and entire Fraser River corridor from Quesnel south to the Pacific.
Elsewhere, a flood warning was issued for the Elk River at Fernie and flood watches for rivers around Invermere, Radium, Revelstoke and Shuswap.
Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Program co-ordinator Sandra Follack said Monday that residents should keep a close watch over the next 24 hours.
Okanagan Lake is also nearing full pool.
“The lake is coming up to full pool, so that does give us some concerns and some of our area residences have to do certain things when we do get to full pool and we would like to remind people to stay away from rivers and from streams,” Follack said.
Intense flooding seen across the Interior in 2017 and 2018 is not anticipated, however.
Residents can pick up empty sandbags at the Kelowna fire hall, and the City of West Kelowna is co-ordinating the delivery of sand and sandbags throughout the week to waterfront locations.
Environment Canada's latest forecast is calling for more rain through Thursday.
