The City of Armstrong is encouraging residents to protect their properties against possible flooding during the spring freshet, which may come a bit later than usual this year.
Cooler than normal temperatures have delayed the spring snowmelt, and flooding could impact the community once the spring freshets start flowing.
“It is typical for the North Okanagan to experience heavy downpours and thunderstorms throughout the months of May and June,” said Warren Smith, the city’s community services manager, in a press release.
Property owners are responsible for their own flood mitigation efforts, the city said, listing three actions that can be taken: sandbagging, subscribing to flood insurance coverage and creating an emergency kit.
A free sandbagging station has been set up at the city’s public works yard at the corner of Patterson Avenue and Becker Street.
People are also cautioned to keep away from creeks and banks during high stream flows.
The city will continue to monitor water levels and flows while observing areas that typically experience flooding.
More information on flooding and the city’s emergency management program can be found on the city’s website.
In March the city included emergency management planning as an objective in its 2022 Strategic Plan. It includes plans to establish a dedicated Emergency Operations Centre in the new city hall, develop a community emergency evacuation plan and complete a review of the White Rock Lake wildfire.
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