Volunteers supporting the flood mitigation efforts at Parker Cove by filling sandbags at a site off Westside Rd. (photo courtesy of Fabi)

By Liam Verster

Flood Mitigation Support

Volunteers flock to Parker Cove to help with flood mitigation

May 5, 2023 | 1:39 PM

Hundreds of people have reportedly turned out to Parker Cove recently to help mitigate the impacts of the Whiteman’s Creek flooding.

“They’ve been here for a week now. Volunteers from neighbouring communities such as Westshore, Century, Vernon, Kelowna, we had here people from Kamloops and Salmon Arm. Church groups, hockey academies, rugby teams,” Fabi, who did not wish to provide her last name, told Vernon Matters.

She added an estimated 300 people are turning up on a daily basis to help however they can.

“The volunteers are broken down into separate groups, there are the sand pile people making sandbags; then we have the drivers that drive the sandbags over to the affected area; then over by the water we have another large group of volunteers actually piling the sandbags up, unloading the trucks and making the wall.”

Fabi, who is not a resident of Parker Cove but does live nearby, said she is one of a several volunteers helping coordinate the support efforts by directing people where they can best led a hand and by managing donations of food and water from members of the public.

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Over the past several days, the volunteers, working with Parker Cove residents, have helped mitigate the impacts of the flooding.

“So far we’ve been very successful, [the sandbag barriers] have been holding the water. It’s a raging river right now (12:30 p.m. Friday) with sandbag walls guiding it. We’re trying to divert it to save some homes from the water’s edge,” Fabi explained.

“We’re worried because the water level keeps rising and there is rain in the forecast.”

It’s anticipated the thunderstorm forecasted to hit Vernon and the Okanagan over the weekend, compounded with the increased snowmelt activity, will result in increased flow at Whiteman’s Creek, and Fabi said the work by her and the volunteers will continue in spite of the weather.

“We can’t stop because the water’s not going to stop,” Fabi told Vernon Matters.

“All of our efforts have been working so far and it would be sad to stop now and see the water breach the wall.”

The Okanagan Indian band has issued evacuation orders and alerts for the flooded sections of the Parker Cove community and has asked people leave the area and allow emergency teams to handle the flood mitigation work.

However, Fabi said they are still doing their part despite those orders, keeping in mind not to interfere with emergency personnel.

“We’re walking the line and everybody, all the volunteers, that are by the water know the risk, and once we’re kicked out of one street we go to the next street,” Fabi said.

Anyone wishing to support the volunteers, be it by personally working or by donating food, drinks or supplies like tents and chairs, are asked to bring their own shovels to fill the bags and to stay out of the way of the emergency crews.

People within the evacuation order area in need of support can call the Okanagan Indian Band Emergency Operations at 250-241-5809 to get transportation out of Parker Cove.

Emergency Support Services are being offered for the evacuees at the New Horizons building at #8 Bonneau Road.