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Flood response changes to recovery

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Workers rebuild a section of Highway 97A at Two Mile Creek. The road was opened to limited traffic late Sunday afternoon.


2012-07-02Update on Monday, July 2 at 12:20 p.m.

The Shuswap Emergency Program is now moving from response to recovery mode concerning the flooding and debris flow.

Shuswap Emergency Program safety teams will be inspecting homes and businesses that have been affected by flooding to determine whether they are unsafe for occupancy.

An estimated 1,200 homes have been affected by flooding. Approximately 500 properties have been assessed in Electoral Area ‘E’ and the District of Sicamous.

Today, Monday, safety teams are in the Canoe area and Electoral Area ‘F’ from Scotch Creek to Anglemont.

After inspection, a coloured notice will be posted on all homes and businesses. A green notice means the building has been assessed and no apparent structural or other safety hazards were found. A yellow notice means the building is considered either suitable for restricted access until issues are resolved, or use may be possible in those parts of the building that have not been damaged. The notice will identify what has been identified, or what remedial work is necessary to repair the unsafe condition. A red notice means the building is considered unsafe to enter. Residents are implored to not remove the notice from their building. If you need more information about a notice that was posted on your home or business, please call the Shuswap Emergency Program at 250-833-3350.

Helping hands:

The Shuswap Recovery Team is available to those affected by flooding by providing a helping hand and connecting them with agencies, church groups, community groups or volunteers who can help provide assistance.

The Shuswap Recovery Team is also compiling teams of volunteers to assist in general cleanup of properties.

If you need a helping hand, or would like to volunteer a helping hand, please call the Shuswap Recovery Team at 250-833-3350.

 

 

 

Update at Sunday, July 1 at 12:40 p.m.

The Shuswap Emergency Program has announced that the evacuation order issued by the District of Sicamous on June 23 for all occupied residences in the Two Mile subdivision area of Sicamous has been rescinded.

Residents within the existing evacuation order area are now permitted to return to their properties, but remain on evacuation alert and must be prepared to evacuate at short notice if required.

Residents can now return to their homes on Highway 97A from the south through Grindrod. The REd Cross will be distributing 'Return to Home' information packages to residents at their homes.

If you require assistance to travel to your home, you're asked to contact 250-833-3352 or 250-833-3353.

Garbage disposal in Swansea Point:

The Shuswap Emergency Program has also announced the removal of garbage disposal bins for residents of Swansea Point as of today, July 1.

Weekly garbage pickup can be arranged with Aldon/BFI Waste Services at 250-833-3059 or toll free at 1-888-547-6961. Waste bins for household garbage only are located at 1450 Solsqua Rd. in the Sicamous dog park.

Waste material generated as a result of flooding can be taken to the Salmon Arm Landfill at 4290 20th Ave. SE. Call ahead for operating hours. Keep all receipts as costs may be eligible for recovery. Commercial loads are still required to direct their materials to the Salmon Arm landfill.

For more information, contact the Sicamous Recovery Centre at 250-833-3352/3353 or the Shuswap Emergency Program at 250-833-3350 or www.sepadvisory.com.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update at Friday, June 29 at 4:20 p.m.

Marine campers on Shuswap Lake will have to find a new pastime for a while.

Although provincial campsites in the Shuswap are open and accepting campers, marine campsites are not.

Alan Hobler with BC Parks says the boat-in sites are the ones most impacted. When they open will depend on water levels.

"It sounds like things have peaked and have started to come down a little bit," he said Friday. "I think it will be a little while before water comes down significantly and we are able to have the beach sites open."

Besides, he noted, boats on the lake are not a good idea for both safety and environmental reasons.

"Boats on the lake are causing a lot of erosional problems, so we're really discouraging people from being out on the lake," he said, adding that there's so much debris on the water, boating is not safe.

To keep up-to-date on the state of Shuswap Lake campsites, go to the BC Parks website. Click on 'find a park' and then search alphabetically for marine parks such as Cinnemousun Narrows and Anstey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update at Friday, June 29 at 12:13 p.m.

While a Do Not Consume order remains in effect for Sicamous, the order has been downgraded to a Boil Water Advisory in surrounding areas.

All Sicamous residences that rely on the Mara water intake remain under a Do Not Consume order. This is not the case for Two Mile, however, which is on its own water system. The District of Sicamous is pumping potable water into the Two Mile reservoir. As a result, residents of Two Mile now fall under a Boil Water Advisory.

Areas outside of Sicamous that fell under the Do Not Consume order are also now  under a Boil Water Advisory. This includes Swansea Point and residences along Cambie-Solsqua.

According to a June 29 news release from Interior Health and the Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP), in those areas outside of Two Mile now under a Boil Water Advisory, the risk of chemical contamination is low, but the risk of illness from ingesting the water directly remains high. Therefore, until further notice, all water that may be ingested (drinking, brushing teeth, making beverages, or used in food preparation), must first be brought to and kept at a rolling boil for one minute.

Bottled water or water from an approved safe source is also recommended.

Interior Health continues to monitor the water and asses the risk daily.

For more information, contact Interior Health at 250-833-4100.

SEP has also put out a clarification regarding residences in Two Mile that are now on Evacuation Alert. These are: properties on the north side of Mervyn Rd. and Two Mile Rd. (owned by Waterway Houseboats); properties on the south side of Cartier Rd.;  Montcalm Crescent (addresses 50,51,54,58,62,70,74,78); properties along the entire length of Wolfe Street, Tecumseh Rd. and Sicamous Creek Frontage Rd.; and the entire Hwy. 97A corridor.

Update at Friday, June 29 at 11:21 p.m.

Bins are now available for Sicamous residents to drop off their garbage.

Disposal bins, for residential garbage only, will be stationed at 1450 Sicamous-Solsqua Rd. (at the dog park) until the Sicamous landfill reopens.

All disaster and debris material must be taken to the Salmon Arm landfill at 4290 20th Ave. SE. Please remember to keep receipts.

Commercial loads must also be taken to the Salmon Arm landfill.

User fees will be applied to loads received in Salmon Arm.

For further information, contact the Shuswap Emergency Program at 250-833-3350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update at Thursday, June 28 at 12:20 p.m.

Water and food are on the way to help Sicamous and area residents in need.

Nestlé Waters Canada has shipped 51,000 bottles of water from their Hope plant to Sicamous. Nestlé corporate affairs director John Challinor says the water, being distributed in partnership with the Salvation Army, should arrive at the Sicamous and District Recreation Centre at noon Thursday. Challinor says the company is also providing bottled water to Chilliwack, which has been dealing with its own flooding concerns.

"We do this, we've helped out a number of communities over the years right across the country with donations of water, because, as you know, in an emergency, it is the most important item that people require. Beyond fresh air, they require fresh water," said Challinor.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Food Bank is in the process of putting together five-ton truck with food  and water for the Eagle Valley Community food bank.

"I have a place at Swansea and was there Saturday when it all broke loose,"  explains Karen Warrington, the food bank's food industry co-ordinator, in an email. "I stayed to help evacuate and get supplies before returning to work Tuesday at the Calgary Food bank.

"Discussions started here Wednesday morning about how we can help as the worst is over (we hope) and now it is the clean up and sustaining the community for the next few months."

The food bank will be shipping out non-perishables and bottled water, which is expected to arrive in Sicamous sometime next week (July 4-5).

Sicamous and Swansea Point residents are still under a Do Not Consume notice relating to water.

Steele Jordan, president of Hummingbird Beach Resort, is making an appeal to the public for donations of bottled water for Swansea Point residents and those working on the clean up.

Jordan says donations can be dropped off at the Swansea Point Fire Department fire hall on Highway 97A on the corner of Davidson Road.

Jordan says that during the flooding, quick actions were taken to protect the resort and residents across Hummingbird Creek.

"As the large volume of rainfall caused a surge of water through the tributaries of Hummingbird Creek, the build-up of debris created a blockage causing the water to breach the banks and disperse throughout Swansea Point," Jordan explains in a Thursday news release . "As the threat of flooding and destruction from debris increased, we reacted quickly and took immediate action to clear debris from Hummingbird Creek so that the water could flow unobstructed and stay in the creek.

"These actions prevented any substantial damage to the resort and people's homes. Despite the upheaval, most of the area was not affected by the Mara Lake flooding. The resort is still standing and in good shape as water has dispersed into the lake."

Jordan notes the Do Not Use notice for water, followed by a Do Not Consume notice, were issued by Interior Health in response to contaminants that ended up in the lake near Sicamous' Mara Lake water intake, including a 20,000-litre gas tank that toppled.

"Not everyone fared as well, so to aid clean-up efforts, we are asking people to donate water, which will be of great benefit to home owners without water and to those working on the clean up…" says Jordan, adding that life will continue at Hummingbird despite all that's transpired.

"It's been tough, but the whole community is working together. We've had to postpone a Canada Day wine tasting and food fair at the resort to July 8th, but we will still take a break from clean up on July 1 to celebrate this great country. The holiday will take new meaning this year as things could have been much worse."

Highway 97A in Two Mile remains closed as Ministry of Transportation (MOT) work crews continue to return Sicamous Creek to its channel, as was done with Hummingbird Creek soon after the flooding. The highway is open from Grindrod to all Swansea Point property owners, and to certain Two Mile properties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sicamous Sands floodingResidents of Sicamous Sands, between the Eagle River and Shuswap Lake, were served an evacuation notice Monday evening. The above photo, taken

Tuesday, shows the extent of the flooding there. Georgina Kyllo photo

 

 

 

 

Video: Washout at 2 Mile through the Waterway Houseboats property, by Kelly M. Dick promotions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

mpers on Shuswap Lake will have to find a new pastime for a while.

Although provincial campsites in the Shuswap are open and accepting campers, marine campsites are not.

Alan Hobler with BC Parks says the boat-in sites are the ones most impacted. When they open will depend on water levels.

"It sounds like things have peaked and have started to come down a little bit," he said Friday. "I think it will be a little while before water comes down significantly and we are able to have the beach sites open."

Besides, he noted, boats on the lake are not a good idea for both safety and environmental reasons.

"Boats on the lake are causing a lot of erosional problems, so we're really discouraging people from being out on the lake," he said, adding that there's so much debris on the water, boating is not safe.

To keep up-to-date on the state of Shuswap Lake campsites, go to the BC Parks website. Click on 'find a park' and then search alphabetically for marine parks such as Cinnemousun Narrows and Anstey.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update at Friday, June 29 at 12:13 p.m.

While a Do Not Consume order remains in effect for Sicamous, the order has been downgraded to a Boil Water Advisory in surrounding areas.

All Sicamous residences that rely on the Mara water intake remain under a Do Not Consume order. This is not the case for Two Mile, however, which is on its own water system. The District of Sicamous is pumping potable water into the Two Mile reservoir. As a result, residents of Two Mile now fall under a Boil Water Advisory.

Areas outside of Sicamous that fell under the Do Not Consume order are also now  under a Boil Water Advisory. This includes Swansea Point and residences along Cambie-Solsqua.

According to a June 29 news release from Interior Health and the Shuswap Emergency Program (SEP), in those areas outside of Two Mile now under a Boil Water Advisory, the risk of chemical contamination is low, but the risk of illness from ingesting the water directly remains high. Therefore, until further notice, all water that may be ingested (drinking, brushing teeth, making beverages, or used in food preparation), must first be brought to and kept at a rolling boil for one minute.

Bottled water or water from an approved safe source is also recommended.

Interior Health continues to monitor the water and asses the risk daily.

For more information, contact Interior Health at 250-833-4100.

SEP has also put out a clarification regarding residences in Two Mile that are now on Evacuation Alert. These are: properties on the north side of Mervyn Rd. and Two Mile Rd. (owned by Waterway Houseboats); properties on the south side of Cartier Rd.;  Montcalm Crescent (addresses 50,51,54,58,62,70,74,78); properties along the entire length of Wolfe Street, Tecumseh Rd. and Sicamous Creek Frontage Rd.; and the entire Hwy. 97A corridor.

Update at Friday, June 29 at 11:21 p.m.

Bins are now available for Sicamous residents to drop off their garbage.

Disposal bins, for residential garbage only, will be stationed at 1450 Sicamous-Solsqua Rd. (at the dog park) until the Sicamous landfill reopens.

All disaster and debris material must be taken to the Salmon Arm landfill at 4290 20th Ave. SE. Please remember to keep receipts.

Commercial loads must also be taken to the Salmon Arm landfill.

User fees will be applied to loads received in Salmon Arm.

For further information, contact the Shuswap Emergency Program at 250-833-3350.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update at Thursday, June 28 at 12:20 p.m.

Water and food are on the way to help Sicamous and area residents in need.

Nestlé Waters Canada has shipped 51,000 bottles of water from their Hope plant to Sicamous. Nestlé corporate affairs director John Challinor says the water, being distributed in partnership with the Salvation Army, should arrive at the Sicamous and District Recreation Centre at noon Thursday. Challinor says the company is also providing bottled water to Chilliwack, which has been dealing with its own flooding concerns.

"We do this, we've helped out a number of communities over the years right across the country with donations of water, because, as you know, in an emergency, it is the most important item that people require. Beyond fresh air, they require fresh water," said Challinor.

Meanwhile, the Calgary Food Bank is in the process of putting together five-ton truck with food  and water for the Eagle Valley Community food bank.

"I have a place at Swansea and was there Saturday when it all broke loose,"  explains Karen Warrington, the food bank's food industry co-ordinator, in an email. "I stayed to help evacuate and get supplies before returning to work Tuesday at the Calgary Food bank.

"Discussions started here Wednesday morning about how we can help as the worst is over (we hope) and now it is the clean up and sustaining the community for the next few months."

The food bank will be shipping out non-perishables and bottled water, which is expected to arrive in Sicamous sometime next week (July 4-5).

Sicamous and Swansea Point residents are still under a Do Not Consume notice relating to water.

Steele Jordan, president of Hummingbird Beach Resort, is making an appeal to the public for donations of bottled water for Swansea Point residents and those working on the clean up.

Jordan says donations can be dropped off at the Swansea Point Fire Department fire hall on Highway 97A on the corner of Davidson Road.

Jordan says that during the flooding, quick actions were taken to protect the resort and residents across Hummingbird Creek.

"As the large volume of rainfall caused a surge of water through the tributaries of Hummingbird Creek, the build-up of debris created a blockage causing the water to breach the banks and disperse throughout Swansea Point," Jordan explains in a Thursday news release . "As the threat of flooding and destruction from debris increased, we reacted quickly and took immediate action to clear debris from Hummingbird Creek so that the water could flow unobstructed and stay in the creek.

"These actions prevented any substantial damage to the resort and people's homes. Despite the upheaval, most of the area was not affected by the Mara Lake flooding. The resort is still standing and in good shape as water has dispersed into the lake."

Jordan notes the Do Not Use notice for water, followed by a Do Not Consume notice, were issued by Interior Health in response to contaminants that ended up in the lake near Sicamous' Mara Lake water intake, including a 20,000-litre gas tank that toppled.

"Not everyone fared as well, so to aid clean-up efforts, we are asking people to donate water, which will be of great benefit to home owners without water and to those working on the clean up…" says Jordan, adding that life will continue at Hummingbird despite all that's transpired.