High Water In North Vernon

By most accounts, there was less rain that expected last night around the Okanagan, which is a good thing for the flooding situation.

“The water has stabilized overnight. We were lucky to escape the projected thunderstorms, but we are still on alert for the weekend, and there is still the potential for the water to come up,” City spokesperson Tanya Laing Gahr tells Kiss FM.

In light of the reduced threat, the City of Vernon’s emergency operations centre team is standing down, but will remain on standby should issues develop through the weekend.

One problem area is in the 4900 block of 20th Street where BX Creek has gone over its banks, in the same area where there was flooding last weekend.

A sandbagging effort is underway there.

Photo: Levels are BX Creek cause concerns in the 4900 block of 20th Street (City of Vernon photo)

More sand and sandbags are available for Vernon residents at the following locations:

4005 Pleasant Valley Rd.

Okanagan Hills Blvd and Bella Vista Rd. intersection (entrance to The Rise community)

Vernon City Operations (1900 48 Avenue) outside main gate of Pleasant Valley Road

Corner of Okanagan Avenue and Okanagan Landing Road (across from Marshall Field).

“City crews are monitoring the levels of the sand and sandbags and replenishing them as need,” says Laing Gahr.

Blocked culverts and water debris that cause an emergent threat of flooding should be reported to public works department.

Residents can report blocked culverts online at www.vernon.ca/report-issue, by emailing operations@vernon.ca or by calling 250-549-6757.

The City also reminds residents to exercise caution, particularly with children, when in the vicinity of fast moving creeks, streams and water.