‘We’re here to help’: Provincial officials tour flood affected South Okanagan, Similkameen communities

PENTICTON – Provincial officials from Victoria toured the South Okanagan today to witness local flooding concerns first hand.

Emergency Preparedness parliamentary secretary Jennifer Rice and several members of Emergency Management B.C. took a tour of the flood-afflicted areas today, May 2.

Rice said she was here to see for herself the issues facing flood stricken residents of the Okanagan and Similkameen.

“We’re here to help. We’re monitoring what’s happening and reducing risks wherever we can,” she said, adding people were still recovering from last year’s events. “It’s a trying time."

Regional District of Okanagan Similkameen community services manager Mark Woods said the district was focused on response and the evacuees, but to his knowledge no residences have yet been damaged by flooding.

Sixteen homes remain on evacuation order in the Sportsmens Bowl area and 17 in the Tulameen.

Emergency Management B.C. member Pete Prendergast said residents impacted by flooding in the Willowbrook area have access to disaster financial assistance, made available since a March 22 rain event caused some flooding.

“Homeowners can apply for up to $300,000 for their primary residence,” he said, adding the program could be extended to other areas in the region.

Prendergast pointed out disaster financial assistance was not a form of insurance, as it was for non-insurable events.

“It’s a helping hand from the taxpayers of the province for people who have been impacted in their primary home,” he said. The assistance covers 80 per cent of cost after $1,000 to a maximum of $300,000. It doesn’t cover secondary properties, pools or recreational vehicles.

Officials also had a tour of the regional district’s emergency operations centre, recently moved next door to the regional district building. It is anticipated the region’s flood issues will continue for another four to six weeks.

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