Posted on: May 5, 2017 at 9:30 a.m.
Update, 11:30am: Flooding emergency response
Update
May 05, 2017 (11:00 a.m.)
Regional Emergency Centre Activated to Respond to Flooding
For all further updates on flooding impacting Westbank First Nation, the City of West Kelowna and neighbouring areas, please go to www.cordemergency.ca.
UpdatedMay 05, 2017; (updated 9:30 a.m. and 10:00 a.m.)
Further Closure of Gellatly RoadDue to Emergency Repairs
Added at 9:30 a.m.: Gellatly Road, from the intersection of Witt Road to Boucherie Road, is closed as BC Hydro conducts emergency relocation of a power pole compromised due to nearby Smith Creek flooding activity. Power will be out to area residences and business beginning at approximately 12:00pm/noon today for an estimated 12 hours as work is conducted. It is anticipated this outage will affect approximately 6,000 BC Hydro customers in both the City of West Kelowna and Westbank First Nation IR#9. Addresses of those affected will be provided as soon as they are determined.
Gellatly Road is also closed from the entrance of the Gellatly Heritage Park, near the Canyon Ridge subdivision, to the intersection of Gellatly Road Angus Drive. Powers Creek has overflowed its banks and flooded the lake-level road.
Residents in the area are advised to stay in their homes at this time as emergency personnel assess the situation. Emergency personnel are requesting that people stay away from the area as the situation is assessed.
Personnel are also monitoring flooding events along Smith Creek Road and Hitchner Road in West Kelowna.
More details will be provided as they become available.
Added at 10:00 a.m.: The Regional District of Central Okanagan also advises that it has closed a trail in Glen Canyon Regional Park, from Brown Road to and including the Gellatly Road parking area due to flooding and high, fast flowing water in Powers Creek.
The Regional District of Central Okanagan urges visitors to respect any barricades and closure signs posted at these locations as they will remain closed until waters recede.
People are reminded that water levels in area creeks may rise unexpectedly and they, children and pets should stay safely back from creek banks, which may be slippery or subject to erosion from the spring runoff.
Boaters and those using Okanagan Lake boat launches are advised to watch for floating debris that may enter the lake as a result of the runoff.
Original ReleaseMay 05, 2017; 7:30 a.m.
Gellatly Road closed due to flooding
Gellatly Road is closed from the entrance of the Gellatly Heritage Park, near the Canyon Ridge subdivision, to the intersection of Gellatly Road Angus Drive. Powers Creek has overflowed its banks and flooded the lake-level road.
Residents in the area are advised to stay in their homes at this time as emergency personnel assess the situation. Emergency personnel are requesting that people stay away from the area as the situation is assessed.
City personnel are also monitoring flooding events along Smith Creek Road and Hitchner Road in West Kelowna.
More details will be provided as they become available.