CITY – Emergency Operations Centre activated as rain forecast and rivers rise

With rainfall forecasted for the headwaters of both river systems, the City of Kamloops is activating its Emergency Operations Center to a Level 1.

This is a precautionary measure than enables the City to respond quickly should the situation worsen, and allows access to additional resources as needed.

The BC River Forecast Center upgraded the South Thompson River to a Flood Watch over the weekend, and a Flood Watch remains in place for the North Thompson River. Both rivers are unseasonably high due to the delayed snow melt and high snowpacks.

The City said in a news release today (June 20, 2022) that the rivers will be extremely vulnerable to heavy rainfall over the coming weeks, and current river forecasts are calling for a spike in river levels throughout this week.

“City staff are in daily communication with Emergency Management BC, the BC River Forecast Center, Environment and Climate Change Canada and our neighbouring First Nations and local governments, to ensure the latest information is available to assist in operational decision making.”

During the coming weeks the community is reminded to stay vigilant and report any concerns to the Civic Operations Department at 250-828-3461.

“Safety is our top priority and residents are reminded to stay away from the rivers during this period of high flow,” the news release said.

Sand and sandbags are available throughout the community to assist residents in protecting their properties. For more information, visit Kamloops.ca/Flooding.