(image credit - CFJC Today)

By Michael Reeve

MERRITT FLOOD RECOVERY

One year after Merritt flood, residents still looking to rebuild

Nov 16, 2022 | 4:22 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — It has now been one year since the Coldwater River burst its banks, causing devastating flooding to the city of Merritt. The damage from the atmospheric river event caused the city to issue an evacuation order for entire community. While most homeowners were able to return in the weeks that followed, others have not been as lucky.

“It just seems that we are being pushed aside a little bit and just expected to move,” said Nicole Stapleton.

Three-hundred sixty-five days later and Stapleton, her two kids and various pets are still living in a hotel after their home was lost in the floods — and she still can’t begin to see a light at the end of the tunnel.

“From my side I feel very lost and hopeless, honestly. But I keep going. I live in world of hopes and wishes and dreams,” said Stapleton.

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Merritt-area MLA Jackie Tegart has heard from residents throughout the past year and believes some are starting to feel forgotten by the province.

“I get the sense that, ‘Don’t tell me to go one more place to hear no.’ And that is a sense of not knowing where to turn now, and we are a year in. A year is a long time,” said Tegart.

The City of Merritt is working to bring 31 new trailer units to town for people like Stapleton, but Mayor Mike Goetz admitted supply chain challenges have slowed the process.

“It was supposed to be done in September. Now we are looking at December, possibly January. It’s just a supply issue thing. They do know they are getting there homes and they do know they will be going into them. So, almost all the people who are in hotels will be homed,” added Goetz.

Just around the corner from the hotel that Stapleton’s family now calls home, Frank Craig is as close to his home as possible. While he works to repair his house he’s living just feet away in the driveway.

“As we look around here, we can see I have things painted and stuff. There are so many of my neighbours that a lot of their restoration hasn’t even started or they don’t know where they are going to live. Their house has been condemned, it’s going to be knocked down. We are still at that stage here,” said Craig.

Craig was hit hard by the November flood, and then this summer as he rebuilt, a flash flood once again filled his basement with water. Now with drywall up and flooring going down, Craig aims to be in his home for Christmas.

“A rollercoaster would be a nicer ride, actually. It’s been a pretty crazy year. There have been highs and lows. I made a few gains and a few loses along the way. But we are getting there. I think it won’t be long, I hope, and I’ll be in my home again,” said Craig.

The city has created a new diking plan for the community, but at this time has to access government funding to complete the work. Thankfully, Mayor Goetz believes the temporary work will protect the city from another flood event.

“This week I will be talking with Minister (Bill) Blair to find out what the new new model looks like, when it will be available and when we can move ahead with the funding for the mitigation and the dikes,” said Goetz. “That is going to be ongoing. I’m expecting that this will be a bit of a journey for the next two-and-a-half, three years.”