Sandbags are being made available to Sicamous residents as the district prepares for rainy days and rising water.
As of Thursday, May 11, sandbags and sand are available in the Beach Park parking lot (by Silver Sands), at the curling rink, the 2 Mile trail entrance, at 1214 Riverside Avenue (former city hall location) and at the public works yard.
Environment Canada has issued a special weather alert for the Shuswap, with wet weather expected Thursday and Friday, May 11 and 12. Following the weather alert, the province’s River Forecast Centre issued a a High Stream Flow Advisory for the Shuswap, with stream and river levels expected to rise rapidly around Sicamous, Salmon Arm, Enderby and surrounding areas.
Mayor Terry Rysz said the recent flooding and mudslides throughout the region prompted District of Sicamous staff into action, developing a plan for an emergency response to future events.
“We’re totally ready, including a communications plan for the community and a communications plan between our emergency preparedness operator… we have a chain of command, our council chambers will be an emergency centre and so forth,” said Rysz.
Rysz said while the district may not have been ready for the debris flows and flooding that occurred in 2012, district staff are all on the same page when it comes to being prepared for future emergencies.
Part of that preparedness includes assessing and maintaining culverts that may become plugged.
“We need to be prepared and ready to act quickly,” said Rysz, adding quick action by district staff last Saturday prevented worse flood damage from occurring along Old Town Bay Road.