BC Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth says the damage he viewed Sunday in flood-ravaged Grand Forks was "devastating,'' and he pledges the government will do everything it can to support area residents.
Farnworth says assessments are still underway, but from what he saw, federal assistance may also be required during recovery efforts.
The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary says more than three-thousand residents are affected by evacuation orders and alerts - and while conditions eased over the weekend, flooding still poses a threat to life and health.
River modeling shows a second gush of water is due as record heat quickly melts heavy snowpacks and forecasters are predicting the next round of flooding in Grand Forks could be just as bad as the high water that hit with just a few hours' notice last week. (The Canadian Press)
Meanwhile, residents living in low-lying properties along the Similkameen River and along the beaches of Osoyoos Lake are also bracing for more flooding.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has issued evacuation alerts for more than 13-hundred properties.
Properties in Keremeos, Cawston and Osoyoos are expected to be especially hard-hit.
In all, nearly two dozen states of local emergency have been issued by local governments around BC as heavy rains, followed by unseasonable heat have swollen waterways in many areas of the province. (The Canadian Press)
In the Central Okanagan - sunny, hot weather forecast this week is also expected to increase stream flows.
Officials continue to monitor Mill, Mission and Bellevue creeks in Kelowna - McDougall and Powers creeks in West Kelowna - and Middle Vernon Creek in Lake Country.
In Kelowna - crews will begin raising the dike along sections of the Mission Creek Greenway to prevent flooding - and this means the Greenway will be closed from the Lakeshore Road entrance, upstream to KLO Road.
If you live near a creek or stream, and have experienced flooding in the past, emergency officials are reminding you to prepare for potential problems - there are sand and sandbag locations throughout the region.
Okanagan Lake is still within seasonal norms, but boaters are asked to watch for floating debris and to reduce their wake along shoreline areas.
There was some good news on the weekend - an Evacuation Alert was lifted for two properties on Hodges Road in the Killiney Beach area.
For up-to-date information, including evacuation alerts and orders - visit www.cordemergency.ca. (AM 1150 News)