Willowbrook residents work into the night to bolster flood defences

PENTICTON – A South Okanagan community rallied to protect itself following predictions of a rise in Kearns Creek near Oliver last night.

Willowbrook residents teamed up with the local fire department, the Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen, Keremeos and Oliver fire departments to fill and place sandbags through the night, March 26, to protect the community from the rising waters.

A draw down order was issued by the province for the Kearns Creek dam near Willowbrook after it reached capacity late Sunday, March 25, and spilled. The water being pumped from behind the dam could cause Kearns Creek to rise as much as six inches in the next couple of days.

Fifty members of the community got together with local fire departments to fill and place sandbags after regional district personnel delivered more than 24-yards of sand and a total of 6,000 sandbags to the community.

The regional district says emergency operations are in contact with the province and the dam owner as the draw down occurs. Residents will be notified of any changes to the present situation in Willowbrook.

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