Threat of flooding puts Cache Creek residents back on evacuation alert

CACHE CREEK, B.C. – Some residents of Cache Creek, B.C., are being warned they may need to leave their homes as a river threatens to breach its banks.

The local emergency operations centre says the village issued new evacuation alerts for approximately 175 private and commercial properties along the Bonaparte River on Thursday.

British Columbia’s central Interior has already been the subject of several flood warnings this season, including in the Cache Creek area.

Spokeswoman Wendy Coomber says in a statement that water levels in the river have been slow to recede and rain last weekend resulted in a quick rise.

Residents who live along the river have been advised to be ready to evacuate on short notice if the river flows over its banks.

Coomber says water levels are holding so far, but rainfall could change that.

The River Forecast Centre and Environment Canada have advised the village to monitor water levels in the river until early next week.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 21, 2020.