OKIB continues flood mitigation, additional properties evacuated

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“We’ve got four machines on site, we’ve got our staff who are helping with various initiatives from ensuring there’s sand delivered, and we actually delivered 12 dump truck loads of sand for sandbagging,” Louis stated.

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“We’re continuing having these individuals assisting with removal of log jams.”

Looking ahead to the coming days and possibly week, the OKIB is anticipating further complications with the flooding of Whiteman’s Creek.

“We’re having some concerns about the changes in weather conditions,” Louis said.

“Starting on Monday, I think they said there was 40 centimetres of the snow pack remaining at the upper reaches of Whiteman’s Creek. Now you have rain forecasted for I think it’s 10 to 20 [milimetres] for this weekend and that’s going to saturate.”

He added the White Rock Lake wildfire in 2021 burnt up vegetation and essentially sterilized the soil, meaning there is nothing to slow or stop the debris and runoff from entering the creek, and running down to the affected area.

“With that runoff, you have trees from the White Rock Lake fire sliding in, you have landslides in anumber of locations in the Whiteman’s Creek drainage and you have these coming down to the lower reaches and a bit of a log jam now above the bridge that [crews] are taking apart by excavators,” said Louis.

The OKIB also has Emergency Support Services operating out of the New Horizons building at #8 Bonneau Road. People in need of support can contact ESS at 250-309-7603.

Looking ahead, Louis said the work would continue through the weekend.

“[Work will continue] to make sure that the water has a place to go,” Louis said.

“So if there’s any log jams coming out of there we’re trying to deal with them. Making sure that we have a morphologist or person who studies flows and rivers and others that are on site to help assist with providing us with information on where best to place sandbags or riprap or others and being able to contain Whiteman’s Creek and where it’s flooding in it’s present footprint and not having it spread further.”

He added the area is “at the mercy of nature” and it’s difficult to prepare for what could possibly occur with the flooding.

Louis noted there is no indication for when the water levels will begin to recede as of yet.

Volunteers have reportedly flocked to the site to assist with the flood mitigation efforts, and Louis said the work is appreciated but people need to be careful.

“These are very unstable areas and when you look around the province and other areas there’s been people lost that have been swept into the flood waters,” Louis said.

“We want to remind all non-emergency personnel that the evacuation order site is closed due to health and safety and that choosing to remain in that area under the evacuation order puts themselves and family members and first responders in danger.”

That being said, Louis stated he still appreciates the assistance but added he “hopes they go through whatever effort we’re undertaking to assist and coordinate with the emergency efforts” in order to remain safe and not interfere with the emergency personnel or get in the way of dangerous machinery while still lending a hand.

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Louis added, looking ahead in the long term, he hopes the OKIB will be able to support the people who’s properties were significantly impacted or damaged by this flood when possible.