By Vanessa Ybarra

Water rising in Merritt as Nicola River spills its banks

May 12, 2017 | 10:30 AM

MERRITT, B.C. — Overnight showers have caused substantial flooding in Merritt.

According to Mayor Neil Menard, the Nicola River breached its bank overnight resulting in heavy flooding along Garcia Street extending from the Nicola Meadows senior home to just north of the Nicola Valley Memorial Arena.

Neighbourhoods near Lions Memorial Park and Voght Street have also been affected.

“It’s pretty serious,” said Menard. “We’ve been supplying sand and bags at our Civic Centre. It’s been going steady and is pretty hard to keep up with things. What can I say, it’s a disaster.”

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Menard said city and fire crews are doing their best to keep the area as safe as possible, with residents also sandbagging throughout the morning.

UPDATE: 

The evacuation order has been lifted for the five properties on Zoht Indian Reserve 4.

The boil water advisory has also been lifted. 

Five properties on Fyall Road remain under an evacuation order.

EARLIER:

Evacuation order remains for close to a dozen properties in Lower Nicola

Close to a dozen properties remain under an evacuation order in Lower Nicola due to flood threats.

According to Ruth Tolerton, Information Officer for the Lower Nicola Indian Band, five properties on Fyall Road and five properties on Zoht Indian Reserve 4 remain under the order as a precaution.

Tolerton says crews are working hard to re-stabilize the Guichon Greek channels in an effort to keep the creek within its banks. 

She says the bridge over Guichon Creek that connects Shulus with Lower Nicola and Rocky Pines is open and continues to be monitored  by the Ministry of Transportation and Highways.

The Lower Nicola Indian Band is also assuring residents that the Mamit Lake Dam is functioning properly.