The May long weekend is tossing a bit of a wrench in emergency operations in the South Okanagan-Similkameen, where officials are expecting major flooding later this week.
Flooding in the Similkameen and on Osoyoos Lake 香蕉视频直播渨ill happen,香蕉视频直播� according to Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen chair Karla Kozakevich. The question of 香蕉视频直播渉ow much香蕉视频直播� remains to be seen, however, and Kozakevich said individuals with medical needs should be self-evacuating immediately.
香蕉视频直播淲e know we香蕉视频直播檙e going to have flooding with Osoyoos Lake and Similkameen River. That will happen; we just don香蕉视频直播檛 know the extent of it,香蕉视频直播� said Karla Kozakevich, Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen chair.
香蕉视频直播淭he over-2,000 homes on evac alert now through our region, we will be moving some of those homes to an order. We just don香蕉视频直播檛 know the numbers right now that will move to an order. 香蕉视频直播� A lot of it right now is preparing for the worst.香蕉视频直播�
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| The water in Osoyoos Lake has receded a little less than a foot in the past two days, but officials expect the lake to rise significantly in the coming week, as unseasonably hot weather melts much of the snow in higher elevations. Image: U.S. Geological Survey/Screengrab |
Officials expect the flooding to be strongest around Thursday and Friday, making some unfortunate timing. The Victoria Day long weekend is coming up, and that is typically the kickoff to tourism season in the region.
香蕉视频直播淲ith a long weekend, a lot of the hotels are booked, and there will be a shortage of accommodations, so we香蕉视频直播檙e working on branching out even wider to find accommodations,香蕉视频直播� Kozakevich said.
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So far, Kozakevich said about 200 people have required emergency accommodations, but many of the homes evacuated in the region are summer homes and have been unoccupied.
Anyone looking to offer up accommodations 香蕉视频直播� or volunteer in anyway, including sandbagging 香蕉视频直播� should call the RDOS emergency operations centre line at 250-490-4225.
That number should also be contacted immediately by individuals, or family and friends thereof, who have medical needs.
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香蕉视频直播淲e need to get them moving out of their homes potentially now in the Similkameen or Osoyoos area. Those may be people that need dialysis, use oxygen tanks,香蕉视频直播� Kozakevich said.
People who are hesitant to leave their homes because of their pets should call the EOC line, and the RDOS will attempt to find accommodations for those pets and livestock, Kozakevich said.
A Monday RDOS news release noted only those with health and mobility issues within the evacuation alert areas will be eligible for food and lodging assistance at this time.
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香蕉视频直播淭he Similkameen River, I think it香蕉视频直播檚 expected to go up to 800 or maybe even 900 cubic metres per second,香蕉视频直播� said Keremeos Mayor Manfred Bauer. 香蕉视频直播淚 would say 350 cubic metres we started out. We went up to about 700 (last week). There is cooler weather to be expected by about Thursday, Friday, so this could have a large impact on how fast is this coming down.香蕉视频直播�
Officials still aren香蕉视频直播檛 certain how much of an impact that could have on flooding in the region. After floods caused the closure of Highway 3 for days last week, Bauer said some measures were put in place in that area, including gabion walls.
But an RDOS release noted Highway 3 香蕉视频直播渨ill likely be closed in multiple locations香蕉视频直播� as flooding ramps up this week.
香蕉视频直播淐losure of Highway 3 will potentially strand residents, and people with health issues, pets or livestock need to prepare to self-evacuate,香蕉视频直播� the RDOS release said. 香蕉视频直播淣ickel Plate Road, from Hedley to Apex Mountain, is washed out and currently impassible.香蕉视频直播�
