Image Credit: CFJC Today

By Amandalina Letterio

COLDWATER FLOOD

Merritt lifts evacuation order, deems 366 properties ‘unlivable’

Dec 3, 2021 | 4:38 PM

MERRITT — The flood evacuation order in Merritt has been lifted and residents can officially go home — however, 366 properties have been deemed ‘unlivable’ because of structure damage, or because they don’t have services such as gas and hydro.

The City of Merritt has mapped these homes out on a new evacuation order list, which allows those residents to still access emergency support services.

Today (Dec. 3) was the first day many of those residents were able to see the destruction to their homes.

“Seeing it first hand, it’s a bit of an eye opener, a bit of a shock,” said Austyn Allison, as he cleaned out what was left of his home.

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Allison’s home was in the Phase 4 zone — the area that saw the most damage.

“We’re trying to save what we can. You know, our possessions, what we are able to recover that wasn’t damaged from the water. A lot of it is going to be a loss. We already found a lot of mould in there as well,” he said.

Allison has also learned that his property is one 366 properties will remain on evacuation order in a newly mapped out zone.

These homes have been deemed unfit to live in.

“We’ve kept those on order because that allows them to have supports through ESS, a place to stay, etc.,” said Merritt Information Officer, Alan Stebbing.

Residents are making their way back home but Merritt has a lot of healing to do. Three of the City’s schools are damaged: Merritt Central Elementary, Diamond Vale Elementary, and Merritt Secondary will not be reopening in the near future.

The Nicola-Similkameen school district (SD 58) says it’s working hard to get more than a thousand students back in their seats.

“Right now we’ve targeted all of our elementary students being in seats hopefully by January 6,” said Stephen McNiven, Superintendent of SD 58.

McNiven says many of those students will be dispersed among the three remaining undamaged schools in Merritt and some will learn at a former private school space located at Crossroads Community Church.

Grade 11 and 12 students will go to Nicola Valley Institute of Technology – but grades 9 and 10 are still a work in progress.

“We’ve got some things in the works, we’re just not quite there yet,” McNiven added.

Schools will be stocked with bottled water as Merritt remains on a ‘boil water’ advisory. And with residents moving back into their homes, one Merritt company is offering a solution.

“We said hey, we’ve got 700 litre kettles here as well as 5500 watt heaters in them, so let’s boil some water and offer it to the people of Merritt,” explained Kyle Hall, Co-owner, Empty Keg Brewhouse.

On their way home, residents can stop in to fill up their jugs at The Empty Keg Brewhouse, Wednesday to Sunday from 3 to 7 pm.

But for those who won’t be able to go home — residents like Allison, who live in the zone of houses that are unliveable — drinking water isn’t the only basic human need on their mind.

Shelter is too.

“It’s going to need extensive repair by the looks of things,” Allison said about his home.

If you are in the New Evacuation Order area and you have made repairs to your home and it is livable, contact the Merritt ESS and it will be removed from the New Evacuation Order area.

If your property is still un-inhabitable you must reconfirm every week with ESS to continue receiving supports.

For more information, click here.