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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Flooding leads to evacuation of B.C. homes

Associated Press The Spokesman-Review

NELSON, B.C. – Dozens of homes around this southeastern British Columbia town have been evacuated because of flooding from heavy rains and melting snow.

One man was missing in the floodwaters, and area residents were warned Sunday to check for potential contamination of drinking water.

Flood protection efforts were focused on 98 homes that were considered the most susceptible to rising water, said Lara Perzoff, a spokeswoman at the Central Kootenay Regional District’s emergency operations center.

Nelson is about 15 miles north of the U.S. border and about 150 miles north of Spokane.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police issued a warning Sunday for extra caution along fast-running rivers and creeks after Joshua Richard Morgan, 21, was swept away by Ellis Creek in Penticton, between Nelson and Vancouver. A companion with Morgan was unable to help him because of the strong current and high water, police said.

After the first evacuation alert was issued Friday in the West Kootenay region, 12 people voluntarily left their homes. Evacuation orders, a more stringent directive, have since been issued for 40 homes in Grand Forks, 25 in the smaller towns of Passmore and Slocan Park near Nelson and another 28 in the same area.

As of late Sunday the evacuation alert covered 372 homes.

“It’s just a precautionary notice to residents to say, ‘Now’s the time to think about leaving. Prepare to evacuate should that order be given,’ ” said Mike LoVecchio, a spokesman at the Kootenay Boundary Regional District’s emergency operations center in Grand Forks.

Perzoff said 31 people registered at an emergency reception center in the Passmore fire hall.

“Some of them have been staying with friends and family and others are staying in local accommodation,” she said.

Provincial government officials warned Nelson-area residents that water supplies could become contaminated and advised extra attention to the taste, color and smell of any water they drink.

Firefighters from the provincial Ministry of Forests joined municipal workers and volunteers in building sandbag levees at key points around Grand Forks and along flooding Erie Creek in Salmo, about 55 miles east of Grand Forks.

“We’ve had terrific community response,” LoVecchio said. “Neighbors are helping city and regional district crews protect property and each other.”