Flood risk prompts sandbagging in B.C.’s Interior

The potential for flooding has prompted several evacuation alerts and orders and at least one home has been inundated by water as rivers and creeks swell over their banks in British Columbia’s Thompson and Okanagan regions.

The Village of Cache Creek about 80 kilometres east of Kamloops is maintaining a state of local emergency, and five properties are under evacuation order due to the risk of flooding in both the Bonaparte River and Cache Creek.

#cachecreek 10 minutes ago, downtown. #flood #flooding pic.twitter.com/7ByRAAb3bL

— SpcCch (@Spearacanoe) May 2, 2023

At least one property that had been under evacuation order has been inundated by water, and Mayor John Ranta says he hopes that will be the extent of the major damage.

He says he’s never seen the water surge like this before.

“I would say what’s called Cache Creek, that normally is nothing more than a babbling brook 360 days of the year, but the last few days it’s turned into a raging torrent,” he said.

“Yesterday, I would have said we’re in the midst of an emergency, but today I would say we’re in the midst of a disaster.”

Ranta says water is also rushing through local infrastructure.

“The water is flowing through the fire hall, and around the fire hall, and down the parking lot to a motel that is adjacent to the parking lot, and apparently their lower floors are all flooded and damaged.”

A statement posted by the village on social media says water levels are expected to rise over the coming days, with warm weather and rain in the forecast.

The B.C. government says flooding has also closed both directions of Highway 1 and Highway 97 where the routes intersect in Cache Creek, but detours are available.

Cache creek.

Got evacuated from helping at motel by Fire Dept as expecting worse. Water came up 10” in a matter of minutes due to clog downstream. pic.twitter.com/OIY3SPcSdv

— Ryan L (@blackties_laker) May 2, 2023

To the east, the Okanagan Indian Band has issued an evacuation order for several properties in the neighbourhood of Parker’s Cove on the shores of Okanagan Lake, saying flooding in Whiteman Creek poses immediate danger to public safety.

An evacuation alert has since been added for several more properties in the area, where B.C.’s River Forecast Centre says flows are likely to exceed the 10- to 20-year return period.

The centre has placed the neighbouring Thompson region under a flood warning, encompassing the communities of Merritt, Lytton and Cache Creek.

Recent photo of Cache Creek, sent by text from friends that live out there… pic.twitter.com/coXGq0jeoW

— bcwolfgirl aka mèlemst’ye (@bcwolfgirl) May 3, 2023

Lower-level flood watches are in effect for the Boundary and Kootenay regions and areas surrounding the Salmon River between Salmon Arm and Vernon.

A flood watch is also in effect for the middle Fraser River plateau, including areas around Quesnel and Williams Lake.

Sent this to homeowner and he asked me to post. #cachecreek – modifications to the flood plain transfer the water to his property. It didn’t used to do this. pic.twitter.com/BLa2RJnUST

— Ryan M (@inthe250_) May 3, 2023

The forecast centre says melting snow has been increasing, especially in mid-elevation areas, and rain is expected to follow warm, sunny conditions by the end of this week.

In the north, high streamflow advisories are in effect for the Williston region as well as areas surrounding Prince George.

With files from Martin MacMahon