Flooding, landslides reported in South Okanagan following record setting rain

PENTICTON – Penticton and regional district work crews are busy assessing damage and cleaning up following yesterday’s torrential rain.

Penticton Public Works superintendent John Fenske says the city’s biggest issue is damage sustained to Smythe Drive after an overwhelming volume of water cascaded out of a draw above the roadway, washing out the shoulders.

“Work crews have been out there all day trying to re-route the water back into a culvert, and they are having success,” he says.

Fenske says there are lots of other minor, localized flooding incidents, including road edges washed out, ponding water across roads and gravel debris on roads.

“Other than Smythe Drive, there hasn’t been any major damage,” he says.

Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen emergency services supervisor Brandy Maslowski says the district has been responding to several incidents of rock fall, landslides and minor flooding since yesterday evening, March 22.

The Okanagan Falls Fire Department responded to a landslide near 5700 Eastside Road, and the Kaleden Fire Department were called to a landslide at Toy Creek, just north of Yellow Lake on Highway 3A last night.

Maslowski says several flooding, road crumbling and cattle guard erosion issues have been reported in the Naramata area, where two people have been removed from their home and are under the care of emergency services due to flooding and dangerous boulders threatening their residence.

“Boulders have been reported on Green Mountain Road heading up to Willowbrook and a plugged culvert in the Carr Crescent area of that community is overflowing and causing flooding issues there,” Maslowski says.

This morning, March 23, the regional district was called to deal with erosion on the Kettle Valley Railway right of way. The district has a level one Emergency Operations Centre open.

Maslowski says the district is focusing on distributing sandbags for residents to pick-up.

“Use caution, watch for hazards and be prepared. Stay safe,” Maslowski advises.

Johnny Aantjes with Lakeshore Waterworks says 250 Heritage Hills households have no water today after the heavy rains washed out a roadway and undermined a water main. It is hoped service will be restored later today.

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