Assisted living facility in Merritt evacuated due to flooding concerns

“Our crews are out, they’ve been working 24/7, they’re just going to stay on top of it,” Menard said.

“Heavy sandbagging (is taking place) along the Nicola by the Eldorado trailer court and the golf course. We’re just keeping a really close eye on Voght Street, we’ve had to shut it down. We’re keeping a close eye on the street going into Nicola Meadows, but it’s been evacuated, so all we can do is stand by and make sure we take care of anything that does come up.”

Other orders were issued yesterday for residents on 2nd Avenue, and a home on Voght Street.

An evacuation alert continues for all homes in the City of Merritt along the Nicola River floodplain.

City officials say they’re expecting even further rises in the Nicola River. The river rose several inches over the weekend.

One listener told us an old railway bridge has collapsed into the water, damming up water even further. No indication as yet how that might affect flows, but there is concern it will present a debris jam risk for all those living downstream of Lower Nicola. The bridge, which may be a remnant of the old Kettle Valley Railway, is located about 10 kilometers west of Merritt.

And sandbagging continues at the Eldorado Mobile Home Park. Residents have spent most of the past week sandbagging to keep the water back.

by Jill Sperling

Assisted living facility in Merritt evacuated due to flooding concerns

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