Crews working near the Whiteman's Creek bridge Tuesday, May 2 (photo by Liam Verster / Vernon Matters)

By Liam Verster

Volunteer Support Not Necessary

Volunteers urged to leave Parker Cove

May 6, 2023 | 10:56 AM

The Okanagan Indian Band has requested volunteers working to address the Whiteman’s Creek flooding leave the area.

In a social media post at 10 a.m. Saturday, May 6, the OKIB urged the volunteers leave Parker Cove as the situation is developing, there is enough manpower already on the scene and no additional sandbagging is required.

“Volunteers could be exposing themselves to potential hazards while impeding the work of OKIB Emergency Management crews,” read the OKIB statement.

The post stated crews are addressing log jams along Whiteman’s Creek above the bridge and will be dredging the creek to help restore flows to the creek bed.

“OKIB hopes to complete log jam debris removal and mitigation efforts before potential heavy precipitation within the next 72 hours,” read the statement.

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The First Nation stated over 10,000 sandbags have been filled and deployed at Parker Cove, and an additional 20,000 are in reserve.

OKIB noted there are five other creeks on the reserve at risk of flooding, and Emergency Management staff are diverting some of the resources to those areas.

OKIB staff and RCMP will patrol the evacuated area and ensure people adhere to the evacuation order.

Emergency Support Services are operational at the New Horizons building at #8 Bonneau Rd. As of time of publication, 55 households and 100 evacuees had registered with ESS.