What started with 18 properties on evacuation order in the Kootenay Boundary hasĀ jumped in number as the RDKB Emergency Operations Centre predicts river levels to peak June 1, 2020.
The following links are official evacuation orders for each area.
Every link details which addresses are effected and contains several maps to illustrate which neighbourhoods must by evacuated immediately.
- 108 homes on Highway 3, Gilpin Creek Forest Service, Heaven and Nursery/South Nursery roads.
- 36 homes south of the Grand Forks Airport on Gilpin, Darcy and Jmayoff roads.
- 27 homes in Johnson Flats, 12th St and Division St
The EOC says evacuees may access Emergency Support Servicesat the Jack Goddard Memorial Arena in Grand Forks. Evacuees are also encouraged to stay with friends or family if possible. Due to COVID-19, everyone is asked to respect physical distancing and health and hygiene protocols.
Acoeding to the regional district, “a total of about 189 homes are now on evacuation order affecting about 400 people in the Grand Forks area and about 1000 properties remain on evacuation alert affecting a further 2,000 people across the Boundary area.”
The BC River Forecast Centre issued a Flood Warning for the Boundary area of the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary for June 1, 2020. Residents are warned that the river levels have exceeded bank-full or will exceed bank-full imminently, and that flooding of areas adjacent to the rivers affected will result.
This warning is based on rain that fell in the region May 31 increasing flows in the Kettle River system to twenty-year return level, or a high flood risk for low-lying properties by late in the day on June 1.
The RDKB continues to monitor all creeks and rivers and track BC River Forecast Centre and Environment Canada weather information. The RDKB Emergency Operations Centre is activated to Level 3 and is prepared for any ongoing emergency response that may be required.
An EOC call centre has been set up for Boundary residents and is staffed from 8 am to 4 pm daily.Ā The toll-free number for the call centre is 1-888-747-9119.
The RDKB warns everyone to stay away from the edges of watercourses and report any erosion or flooding to theĀ Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre at 1-800-663-3456.
For more information about snow and river levels as well asĀ how to prepare for the 2020 freshet, click here.Ā To register for the RDKB Emergency Alerting System click here.
The RDKB will continue to update the public as new information is available.