By Tom Mark / Beach Radio Vernon

State of emergency declared in Armstrong

Apr 27, 2018 | 12:14 PM

ARMSTRONG, B.C. — The City of Armstrong has declared a local state of emergency due to the hot weather and coming rain.

City Emergency Program Coordinator Warren Smith tells CJIB News there’s been a fair amount of ground water saturation since low level snow has melted.

It’s expected the current weather is going to affect the mid-mountain areas.

“At approximately the 1500-metre mark where there still is a significant amount of snow up there. Right now we’re seeing the snow pillow that’s sitting at approximately 152 per cent which is nearing record levels.”

And that is having an effect on the city’s two creeks.

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“Both Meighan Creek and Deep Creek have been rising fairly rapidly this week. so with combined incoming forces of Mother Nature we’re trying to do some advance work.”

Declaring a local state of emergency will allow the city to conduct advanced mitigation work on the two creeks.

”We’re gonna be looking at diverting Meighan Creek and we’re going to be accessing a local property. So, we’ll be diverting some of the water into that field and that will alleviate some of the pressure on the water system.”

He says when there was flooding earlier this year they attempted a diversion but because the weather system had come through so quickly and so intense it was too late.

Smith says at this point there is no direct threat to local properties, but the city wants to be prepared in case the water comes up fast.

The city reminds residents they can get sandbags for their own properties at the Public Works Yard and at Bridge and Pleasant Valley Road.