‘Tired isn’t the word anymore’: Evacuation orders enacted, lifted in Princeton

Another atmospheric river barrelled through B.C. this fall, and its consequences were felt in Princeton.

But evacuation orders were lifted Friday night in Cawston, rural Keremeos, and Rural Princeton.

EOC Update: Friday, Dec. 3, 2021 7:00 pm Evacuation RESCINDS issued for Electoral Area B (Cawston), Area G (Rural Keremeos), and Area H (Rural Princeton). Please visit https://t.co/bZgzssBumU for more information. Some Orders and Alerts remain. #bcfloods pic.twitter.com/2KWVfcWiAd

— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) December 4, 2021

The two rivers that go through the Okanagan town, the Similkameen and the Tulameen, were rising, which caused the flood warning.

Most of the properties put under the new evacuation alerts were in low-lying areas.

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• B.C. breaking temperature records, causing snowmelt, adding to flooding

• More troops help Princeton shore up defenses, both rivers on flood watch

• B.C. floods a ‘wake up call,’ River Forecast Centre poorly staffed for decade

“We had to put a number of areas of town on evacuation alert and we had to re-evacuate one section of town,” Mayor Spencer Coyne told CityNews Wednesday night. “Water started rising up in that area and getting close to houses so we had to put them back on evacuation order.”

Now that the evacuation orders are starting to lift, it’s looking hopeful for Princeton. Water levels are expected to stabilize by Thursday afternoon.

Relief can’t come soon enough, says Coyne.

On top of the flooding, the city has dealt with sewer issues, the loss of water and natural gas, two fatal crashes, and two house fires since mid-November.

“Tired isn’t the word anymore. Exhausted — mentally, emotionally, physically. We’re getting tired. This Sunday will mark three weeks of this and we’re almost there,” Coyne said.

“It’s been a very, very, long two and a half, almost three weeks.”

The military was deployed to Princeton late last month to help shore up the town’s defenses against flooding from the Similkameen and Tulameen.

Troops helped fill and deploy sandbags.

Despite some criticism being levelled at the province amid the floods, Coyne says he has received support.

“Working with the ministries as need be. Funding seems to have been accessible and that’s helped a lot,” he said.

Fortunately, conversations are in the works with BC Housing and ministries to get more help.

Coyne says he spoke to BC Housing about providing interim housing for people whose homes were impacted by the flood.

“I’ve spoken to a few ministers and I believe our MLA is going to try to get down here this week to see us and see how we’re doing. We’ve got a lot of support. Not just provincially but I think we have a lot of support federally as well and across parties,” he said.

– With files from Lisa Steacy and Greg Bowman