By Chad Klassen

Flooding has closed bridge, led to 67 evacuation orders in Lower Nicola

May 7, 2018 | 5:22 PM

MERRITT, B.C. — Part of the Lower Nicola is in jeopardy thanks to high waters, as flooding has even left some area residents stranded at their homes.

Highway 8 is closed in both directions 10 kilometres west of Merritt, as crews use heavy equipment to build up berms and clear debris from Guichon Creek.

The levels rose over the weekend and into Monday. 

“Yesterday there was some breaching further upstream, and as you can imagine any kind of fortifications that are place are extremely difficult to maintain right now,” says TNRD Area “M director Randy Murray. “They’re constantly working on ensuring that they’re reinforcing those fortifications and it’s an ongoing battle.”

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The water has spilled the banks and worked to create massive waterways down Marshall Road off Highway 8. It’s led to 67 evacuation orders to this point as water surrounds properties. 

“Most of the residents have prepared themselves and are getting ready for the potential because of last year, which is a good thing,” notes Murray. “It’s bad because it’s really impacting everybody even more this year with more evacuations and more people out of their homes. We want to get them back as soon as possible. It’s always a fine line between safety and getting back to your belongings.”

About 50 of the evacuation orders are at the Lower Nicola Mobile Home Park. While some are staying for the time being, Julie Pollard feels best leaving. 

“At 9 o’clock this morning, I was informed there was a major flood in the park,” says Pollard. “It had breached the road, the highway, so it was coming over the highway and there was just a gush of water. Down at the bottom, a good two feet.”

It was on hands on deck on Monday. Firefighters from the B.C. Wildfire Service were at the park and elsewhere in Lower Nicola, sandbagging and doing everything they could to re-direct water away from homes. 

In addition, with the flooding issues, the Lower Nicola Waterworks District has issued a boil water advisory that takes effect immediately.

There is no indication when Highway 8 will re-open.