By Corey Fischer

Flood Update For North Okanagan

May 5, 2017 | 4:47 PM

Residents in Lumby are anxiously watching local creek levels.

They’ve been on the rise due to rain and snow melt.

Mayor Kevin Acton says they’ve decided to not activate their emergency program at this point.

“It’s very serious, but it’s just that public works are managing it at this point, so rather than having the province send out the troops, so the speak, administration feels that we’ve kind of got it under control for now,” Acton tells Kiss FM.

Alistair Crick from the Regional District of North Okanagan’s protective services says there’s also been some flooding in low lying areas of Grindrod and Mara, and more is expected.

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“We haven’t really hit a crunch yet, but we’re only at the start of freshet, and that’s one of the things we’re concerned about,” Crick tells Kiss FM.

The Township of Spallumcheen reports localized flooding in the area of Powerhouse and Demorest Roads, as well as at the north end of Stepney Road due to the rain and snow melt.

A portion of Powerhouse Road, between the 2100 and 2300 Block, has been closed to the public.

(Otter Lake Cross Road in Spallumcheen — Jason Keis photo)

There is flooding on Otter Lake Cross Road in Spallumcheen that has caused the road to erode between the Tolko Mill and the Armstrong Regional Co-operative card lock. Vehicles are being advised not to travel on it.

The City of Vernon and RDNO are providing sandbags and sand at several sites which you can see on the Kiss website.

Any blocked culverts and water debris that causes an emergent threat of flooding should be reported to the city’s public works department.

An Evacuation Alert has been put in place by the Central Okanagan Regional District affecting 90 properties in the Fintry Delta area, just south of Fintry Provincial Park.

Residents in this area should be prepared to leave their homes on short notice should conditions along Short’s Creek worsen.

They may also wish to take steps to protect their properties from potential flooding. including Fintry off Westside Road, where the provincial park has been closed.

The Okanagan Indian Band office on Westside Road also had some flooding in its basement.

The City of Vernon has closed all sports fields due to the rain.

A severe thunderstorm watch continues for the Okanagan, Shuswap, Kootenay Lake and Cariboo.

A frantic search continues in Cache Creek — west of Kamloops — where it appears the community’s fire chief was swept away by high waters.

It happened while 59 year old Clayton Cassidy was checking on the levels early this morning and he hasn’t been seen since.

by Corey Fischer