Townsman Staff
Despite the rainfall in Cranbrook overnight Saturday and into Sunday morning, the flooding experienced in the city late last week has subsided, the City of Cranbrook said in a press release Sunday. On Monday, Cranbrook’s Public Works crews begin to transition into their clean up efforts.
“Public Works crews will continue to focus on the temporary filling many new potholes that have popped up all over the City,” said Chris Zettel, Corporate Communications Officer for the City of Cranbrook. “Residents are asked to please slow down while driving around the City for the next week as road conditions in many areas have deteriorated due to all of the water.
“Public Works crews will focus heavily on flood cleanup on Monday and through next week.”
Residents are also still advised to stay away from any creeks, including Joseph Creek and lakes including both Elizabeth and Idlewild Lake.
Meantime, the water quality advisory issued early Friday afternoon for residents on the City of Cranbrook water system continues today was expected to remain in place Monday. Zettel stressed that this is NOT a boil water order. The measure is not mandatory, only precautionary.
Residents with young children, the elderly or those with a weakened immune system may wish to boil their water for at least one full minute at a rolling boil before using for things like drinking, washing fruits and vegetables or brushing teeth.
The City of Cranbrook will continue to monitor the water quality and keep the public up to date on any changes. For more information about Interior Health Drinking Water Advisories and Notifications, visit www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/DrinkingWater/Pages/AdvisoriesNotifications.aspx.
Around the Regional District of East Kootenay, there was some sloughing near Fort Steele Farms and overflowing ditches on the highway as well, said RDEK Information Officer Loree Duczek. There are signs posted on the highway warning of water.
The situation in Wasa remains of some concern.
“We still have significant pooling of water in and around the Wasa area that has not improved in the past two days. The main challenge for us is that with the area being so flat, there is nowhere for the excess water to go so we are not seeing things dry up as quickly as they are in other parts of the region,” Duczek said Saturday.
“There has been some water flowing across a section of Wasa Lake Park Drive as snow melts from the up-hill side of the roadway. With the help of a resident, our Emergency Program personnel have diverted some of that runoff into a culvert that opened today. This has reduced the amount of water on the road, which remains open.”
The RDEK also warns that with high temperatures continuing and rain in the forecast ice conditions on lakes and creeks will be unpredictable.
Although the flood risk has passed, residents can still pick up sandbags at the Public Works yard on Cobham Avenue, if they wish.
If you are still experiencing a flooding related issue, please call the City of Cranbrook After Hours Line at 250-426-2325. Any regular emergency requiring Fire, RCMP or Ambulance services, please call 911.