Flood costs rise as new community experiences flood threat in South Okanagan

PENTICTON – As South Okanagan temperatures climb, so too are floodwaters and flood mitigation costs in the region.

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen directors received a detailed update of the current flooding situation as 447 properties in the region remain on evacuation alert.

Emergency Management Program coordinator Paul Edmonds said evacuation alert decisions would be made later today regarding the new flood threat at Twin Lakes, which director Tom Siddon said is currently experiencing a 19 centimetre rise in lake level each day.

The regional district has seen more than 376,200 sandbags deployed, 257 truck loads of sand and two kilometres of tiger or bladder dams constructed since the region’s emergency operations centre opened on March 23.

Edmonds said 200,000 more sandbags are on order.

The regional district has run up $60,400 in staff time at the evacuation centre, spread amongst 49 employees. More than $116,900 has been spent on overtime costs, spread amongst 53 staff, which Edmonds said was being billed to Emergency Management B.C.

Edmonds said the district has been dealing with trespass issues in evacuated areas and is now providing security 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Sandbagging efforts are being hampered by a lack of pallets, and efficient ways and means of moving them, he told the board.

Sportsmens Bowl Road is now 50 to 80 per cent eroded by floodwaters from Park Rill Creek.

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