Some evacuation orders lifted in B.C.'s Interior as flooding threat eases

A state of local emergency was rescinded on Saturday in the Southern Interior city of Grand Forks, B.C., while some evacuation orders for properties under threat of flooding were also lifted.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (RDKB)said in a release on Sunday afternoon that decreased rain in the area has resulted in a reduction in water levels in some rivers and creeks.

The regional district rescinded an evacuation order for 34 propertiesin the city of around 4,000 residents, located 500 kilometres east of Vancouver.

That order has been downgraded to an evacuation alert. Evacuation orders remainfor at least 29 other properties, while hundreds also remain on evacuation alert in the region.

WATCH | Residents in Grand Forks B.C. relievedover flooding reprieve:

Flooding risk eases in Grand Forks, B.C.

1 year ago

Duration 2:20

The CBC's Tom Popyk tours Grand Forks as water levels hold steady

Mark Stephens, manager of emergency programs with RDKB, said on Sunday that the swelling Kettle and Granby rivers are now cresting and the threat of flooding is receding in the region.

"We've seen a reprieve from the weather," he said. "We're optimistic we'll see the river levels here start to decrease."

Grand Forks Mayor Everett Baker said there was no property damage reported from the flooding event.

He said the city learned from a devastating flood in 2018 that destroyed close to 100 homes. Since then, it has spentaround $40 million buying out properties on the flood plainand investing in protective infrastructure such as new levees and pumping stations.

"I'm pleased to see the water is staying in the river and not downtown," he said.

Cache Creek emergency remains

InCache Creek, a village about 350 kilometres northeast ofVancouver, a state of local emergency remains in place and has been extended until May 13.

Village officials said 21 properties remained on evacuationorder, while 12 others were still on alert. Crews brought insandbags, cleared asphalt and put in a mound of soil in a key location alongthe creek near Quartz Road in order to prevent further flooding.

Rising creek waters earlier in the week inundated parts of thevillage, flowing through its firehall, flooding several businessesand temporarily closing both Highway 1 and Highway 97.

"The water is staying in the channel now,'' said Cache CreekMayor John Ranta. "And it doesn't seem to be flowing around orthrough the firehall the way it was the last few days.''

B.C. United MLA Jackie Tegart, whose Fraser-Nicola constituency includesCache Creek, met with town residents Saturday.She said people are hopeful the worst of the flood threat isover.

"People are tired,'' said Tegart. "Holy cow, are they tired.''

On Sunday, about half of B.C. remained under flood watch,warning or advisory.

A flood warning also continued to be in place for Whiteman Creekin the Okanagan, where the Okanagan Indian Band said it willcontinue to monitor the situation while removing silt and debris tominimize the damage from rising water.

In Cache Creek, Ranta said while the village is still in theresponse phase of the emergency, there will also be a long cleanupprocess due to the flooding this past week.

"There's, you know, six or eight inches of silt and rocks andgravel and whatnot around the firehall,'' Ranta said. "And otherbusinesses have work to do. They've got a fair bit of damage as aresult of the flooding, and I think we'll be months in the recoveryphase.''

The village is also remaining vigilant to new flooding that mayarise, Ranta said.

Tegart said people in the area have told her they want theprovincial government to engage in "big picture planning'' to tryto limit the annual flood threat.

"Every year, people watch with trepidation as the freshetstarts,'' Tegart said. "We know where the water comes up. Whyaren't we doing the work before it happens?''