Evacuation order and alert issued for Olalla residences

PENTICTON – Six homes in Olalla are under an evacuation order this afternoon.

The Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen issued the order today, May 30, for homes in the northern part of Olalla along 1 and 2 Streets.

Keremeos Creek has been flooding nearby low-lying areas since last week, forcing voluntary evacuations in previous days.

Rising water is affecting septic tanks and electricity to homes, which has resulted in a formal evacuation notice for the following residences:

• 2660 1st Street
• 2649 1st Street
• 2645 1st Street
• 2641 1st Street
• 2637 1st Street
• 2636 1st Street

Affected residents are asked to register as soon as possible by calling the Emergency Operations Centre at 250-809-6561.

A precautionary alert is in place for an additional 11 homes in Olalla along Keremeos Creek. They include:

• 2661 1st Street
• 2657 1st Street
• 2653 1st Street
• 2648 1st Street
• 2640 1st Street
• 2641 1st Street
• 2637 1st Street
• 2633 1st Street
• 2624 1st Street
• 2612 1st Street
• 1675 Highway 3A

Affected residents will be given as much notice as possible prior to evacuation but limited notice should be anticipated due to rapidly changing conditions.

For updates, further information and maps, visit the regional districts emergency operations page.

To contact a reporter for this story, email Steve Arstad or call 250-488-3065 or email the editor. You can also submit photos, videos or news tips to the newsroom and be entered to win a monthly prize draw.

We welcome your comments and opinions on our stories but play nice. We won't censor or delete comments unless they contain off-topic statements or links, unnecessary vulgarity, false facts, spam or obviously fake profiles. If you have any concerns about what you see in comments, email the editor in the link above.