An image of the original Coldwater River channel. The City of Merritt has temporarily redirected the river back to this channel after it carved a new channel on Pine Street last week (Image Credit: Greg Lowis / City of Merritt)

By Chad Klassen

ATMOSPHERIC RIVERS

Merritt feels better prepared for looming storms with Coldwater River temporarily redirected

Nov 26, 2021 | 5:21 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — Nearly two weeks after an atmosphere river damaged more than 160 kilometres of the Coquihalla Highway, destroying other highway corridors as well, two more are coming.

Environment Canada is forecasting extreme rainfall to hit this weekend, and then again on Tuesday, with the potential for more flooding and landslides. It’s literally the calm before the storm.

“So we do have a short period of recovery [from flooding] in the rivers over the next 24 hours or so,” noted Dave Campbell from the B.C. River Forecast Centre. “We’re seeing the rivers have peaked from last night and are dropping, and really we’re now moving into these next series of storms.”

Transportation Minister Rob Fleming said during the news briefing on Friday the province is prepared for these upcoming rain events.

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“With regard to the highway system, we will be ready,” said B.C. transportation minister Rob Fleming in a news briefing on Friday. “Crews and equipment are already on standby to respond if necessary. We’ll be monitoring the roadways, particularly in the areas that were impacted by last week’s storms.”

They’re also same atmospheric rivers that hammered Merritt last Monday when the Coldwater River broke its banks and flooded portions of the city. With the next two systems, city officials are receiving daily updates from Environment Canada but aren’t exactly sure how they will affect Merritt specifically.

However, with the city temporarily redirecting the Coldwater back to its original channel, the city feels it’s ready.

“If it impacts us, with the way the river has been shifted to its temporary position, we believe that will relieve some of the pressure that we had previously,” said Brown.

Brown says while the city couldn’t have fully prepared for the last flooding event, they are certainly better prepared this time.

“We will have, from my understanding, sandbagging available for citizens,” she said. “But this is going to come through our same phase that is still in the evacuation order area, and it’s our worst hit area to begin with.”

City officials say the pending storms aren’t affecting the Return Home plan with residents in Phase 2 coming back on Saturday.

Merritt also announced on Friday they are splitting the final phase into Phases 3 and 4 to allow more people in those flood-affected areas to return.

“We realize there are some in Phase 3 that could come back earlier than others. Phase 4 won’t have any access until further notice, but Phase 3 will be allowed day access and that day access will be from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.,” said Brown.

While residents return, Brown is reminding people they are still on evacuation alert and should be ready to leave again if needed.