Floodwaters recede in parts of B.C., but other areas still on high alert
Rhianna Schmunk | CBC News | Posted: May 7, 2017 5:24 PM | Last Updated: May 9, 2017
2 men presumed dead in Cache Creek, Tappen as Kelowna residents begin to assess damage
LATEST:
- States of emergency: Grand Forks, Kelowna, West Kelowna, Lumby and Fintry Delta.
- Flood watch: Salmon River.
- High streamflow advisory: Southeast B.C., Shuswap region, Kettle River, Boundary.
Sunshine in parts of B.C.'s Interior on Sunday eased the threat and impact of flooding, but other areas in the region and province remain on high alert.
Two people are presumed dead due to high water levels and a mudslide.
The River Forecast Centre expected a "drying trend" Sunday, and conditions improved for rushing creeks and streams in the Shuswap, Okanagan and Boundary regions as rain held off.
However, states of emergency are still in effect for the City of Kelowna, West Kelowna, the Fintry Delta, and Grand Forks.
There is also a state of emergency in Lumby, where 25 homes are under evacuation order and 80 are on alert.
On Sunday evacuation orders were issued for several residences near Lake Country. Water levels in lakes around the municipality are said to be rising quickly.
Evacuation orders are also in effect for just over 90 properties in Kelowna.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan estimates that 300 people are out of their homes in total and about 180 people have registered with emergency services.
Some residents who were displaced were able to return home to survey the damage, but many are still being told to prepare to leave at a moment's notice.
Margaret Szombathy's basement flooded on Marshall Street as waters quickly rose on Friday.
"It's pretty frightening to watch," Szombathy said, as she assessed the damage on Sunday.
On Friday, Environment Canada posted severe thunderstorm watches for huge swaths of the province's central and southern Interior. Floods caused by rain and snow melt were already a problem.
Jason Marzinzic has lived in Kelowna's Capri neighbourhood for nearly 15 years and said he's never seen anything like what happened on Saturday.
"We've had little bits of flooding but never anything else remotely like this before. I mean, this is pretty amazing ... I've got water past my knees in my yard."
Kirsten Jones, with the Central Okanagan's Emergency Operations Centre said that displaced residents would most likely be out of their homes Sunday night, even though many are asking why they haven't been allowed to return.
"There's a process we have to go through to make sure everyone is safe including having an electrical inspection of the property," she said.
Meanwhile, the province is offering financial assistance to victims of the flooding.
The assistance is available to home owners, residential tenants, small business owners, farmers, charitable organizations and local government bodies that were unable to obtain insurance to cover these disaster-related losses.
Claims can be made for eligible damage that exceeds $1,000. The maximum claim is $300,000. Submissions must be made by August 5, 2017.
Wet Kootenays
A state of emergency was called in Grand Forks by the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary on Sunday although there have been no evacuation alerts or orders.
Overflowed rivers in the city led to water-logged fields and puddles for parking lots.
The district is keeping an eye on up to 40 homes that are threatened by high water levels. Crews are placing sandbags and constructing dykes to keep the water at bay.
2 presumed dead
Cache Creek Fire Chief Clayton Cassidy disappeared Friday after he went to check water levels near a local campground. A massive search effort was launched after the 59-year-old man's truck was found running near the water's edge.
On Sunday afternoon, RCMP confirmed that the search had turned into a recovery mission.
A Tappen senior is also suspected to have perished after a home was swept away in a mudslide. The 76-year-old was last known to be inside. Crews from as far as Vancouver have been dispatched to try and find him.
"Search efforts to recover the man's body are continuing Sunday as well as on Monday," said Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.
Meanwhile residents with properties close to the home where the victim was say they're worried about more mudslides happening.
"It's a pretty concerning time," said Shuswap property owner Chris Branch.
Road closures
Several roads closures remain in effect Sunday due to flooding.
They include major disruptions on Highways 1, 6EW, 8, 97A, and 97D.