A local state of emergency has now been declared for Kelowna and Fintry Delta in the Regional District of Central Okanagan to address flooding. A local state of emergeny for West Kelowna was delcared earlier today.
Approximately 90 multi-family units, 4 single family homes and 1 commercial property have been evacuated due to flooding in Kelowna including 543 Rowcliffe Avenue, 534 Sutherland Avenue, 539 Sutherland Avenue, 1955 Pacific Court, 1915 Pacific Court, 1902 Lindahl Street, 1936 Lindahl Street, 1948 Lindahl Street, 1118 Brookside Avenue, 1122 Brookside Avenue, 1130 Brookside Avenue.
Several roads in Kelowna remain closed including Ethel Street from Cadder Avenue north to Sutherland Avenue, Sutherland Avenue from Pandosy Street to Richter Street, Buckland Avenue from Marshall Avenue to Ellis Street, Marshall Avenue, Burne Avenue from Richter Street to Ethel Street, Brookside Avenue from Gordon Drive going east and from Wilkinson Street going west, Spencer Road - access through Country Rhodes Estates, Bubna Road.
No reports of evacuations in West Kelowna, but several roads are closed including Lower Gellatly Road between Canyon Ridge and Angus Drive and Gellatly Road from Witt Road to Angus Drive. Shannon Lake Road is closed from Treasure View Estates to Bartley Road due to flooding at the bridge over McDougall Creek.
In Lake Country, Beaver Lake Road and Towgood Road from Oyama Road to Middlebench Road are closed.
Previous Evacuation Orders and Alerts remain in affect, including the Evacuation Order for Fintry Provincial Park and the Evacuation Alert for the Fintry Delta area. The Evacuation Order for 6214 and 6490 Lakeshore Road has been rescinded.
Sandbags and sand have been replenished since this morning and is available at locations found below.
Those that have been evacuated are asked to register at the Emergency Support Services reception center located at the Salvation Army at 1480 Sutherland Avenue. Evacuees are also encouraged to try and find temporary accommodation with family and friends due to a shortage of hotel space in the area.
The Emergency Support Services reception centre will close at 10:00 pm tonight and reopen at 11:00 am tomorrow morning.
Update (12:20 pm)
A local state of emergency has been declared for the City of West Kelowna to address the flooding. No new evacuation orders or alerts have been declared at this time.
Emergency crews and municipal staff from throughout the Central Okanagan continue to attend several areas impacted by flood waters.
Emergency personnel have been conducting tactical evacuations of people throughout Kelowna whose safety is at risk due to flooding. These people have been referred to Emergency Support Services.
For up to date information on the situation including a map and to sign up for e-updates, visit www.cordemergency.ca.
Anyone noticing a potential problem or a flooding concern is asked to call the Kelowna Fire Department at 250-469-8801.
Original Story (9:39 am)
Homes, apartment buildings and some businesses are under water this morning after portions of creeks throughout the Central Okanagan overflowed yesterday.
There is localized flooding throughout Kelowna, West Kelowna and Lake Country, forcing dozens of residents out of their homes last night.
Kelowna resident Susana, who lives in an apartment building on Rowcliffe Avenue, was one of the people evacuated.
“They told us to get some stuff and we were evacuated and I spent the night at the Salvation Army.”
Emergency Support Services Centre open
Officials have set up an Emergency Support Services centre at the Salvation Army at 1480 Sutherland Avenue (at the corner of Burtch Road and Sutherland Avenue) to give information to anyone impacted by flooding. It will re-open at 10:30am this morning. People under an Evacuation Order are being asked to check-in at the centre.
Susana’s apartment building, like many other buildings in the region, is under a couple of feet of water.
“This morning I came back to check,” she sadly says while looking at the standing water inside the apartment “They were working on the building but I don’t see anything, any improvement.”
Sand available
Sandbags and sand are available at various locations around the Central Okanagan.
In Kelowna, sandbags are available at the Kelowna Fire Hall at 2255 Enterprise Way. Sand is available at the corner of Richter Street and Rowcliffe Avenue and at the Cook Street boat launch.
In West Kelowna, sand can be picked up at Falcon Park on Green Bay Road, Casa Loma Beach Park on Casa Loma Road, and Pebble Beach Park at the end of Whitworth Road.
People in North Westside can fill sandbags at the Shorts Creek Firehall, but are being asked to call ahead to make arrangements at 250-545-1195.
Sand is also available for people in Joe Rich at the Joe Rich Fire Rescue Hall on Highway 33.
Roads closed
There are a number of streets and side streets that are closed, in addition to some main roads. Several roads, walkways and parks throughout the Central Okanagan have standing water or are threatened by flooding and drivers and pedestrians should take caution.
In Kelowna, Bulman Road remains closed from Shadow Ridge golf course to Heron Road. Marshall street is also closed.
In West Kelowna, Shannon Lake Road is closed due to flooding of McDougall Creek. The closure is from just north of Shannon view drive to the intersection with Bartley Road. Gellatly Road from Witt Road to the Canyon Springs subdivision remains closed at this time.
In Lake Country, Beaver Lake Road is closed.
Evacuation Alerts and Orders
An Evacuation Alert remains in place in the Fintry Delta area, affecting approximately 90 properties just south of Fintry Provincial Park. Properties that are affected by the Alert include those in the delta accessed by Fintry Delta Road, Morden Road and Shorts Road.
Residents in this area should be prepared to leave their homes on short notice should conditions along Shorts Creek worsen. They may also wish to take steps to protect their properties from potential flooding.
The Evacuation Order issued earlier on Friday for Fintry Provincial Park remains in effect.
An Evacuation Order remains in effect for two properties on Lakeshore Road in Kelowna – 6214 and 6490 due to a landslide. The landslide has crossed the road blocking access and egress to six properties at the very south end of Lakeshore Road – 6550, 6620, 6850, 6950, 7050, 7990, 8000 and 8888 Lakeshore Road.
There are dozens others that were evacuated out of their homes last night.
Emergency crews and municipal staff from throughout the Central Okanagan will be attending to several areas impacted by flood waters.
For up to date information on the situation including a map and to sign up for e-updates, visit www.cordemergency.ca.
Anyone noticing a potential problem or a flooding concern is asked to call the Kelowna Fire Department at 250-469-8801.
