The TNRD area director in Spences Bridge says some residents who lived along Highway 8 between Merritt and Spences Bridge will likely not be able to go home for years.

Steven Rice says most residents had to leave their homes in an instant last week with just the clothes on their back as parts of the highway were swallowed by the nearby Nicola River.

Speaking on the NL Noon Report, he says some residents who are lucky to still be at home have no TV, no internet, and very little cell coverage.

“The stories…each home, each resident has a different tragic story. Some worse than others and its just…It is beyond anyone’s imagination,” he said. “You can’t make this stuff up. It is a reality.”

Rice had to drive about 18 kilometres north towards Cache Creek just so he could speak to NL News by phone Wednesday morning.

“When the usage is high, you either don’t get calls or you drop calls,” he said. “This is the closest reliable source for me to do any communications.”

B.C. Transportation Minister Rob Fleming says 18 sections of Highway 8 were damaged by flooding, with repairs expected to take months.

“This highway is closed approximately 20 kilometres [west of] Merritt through to Spences Bridge as a result of significant damage from the storm event,” Fleming said Tuesday afternoon. “Eighteen segments of that highway sustained substantial damage. Four bridges are either gone or damaged.”

RCMP told NL News on Tuesday that a woman was missing after her home was washed away by floodwaters while she was inside last Tuesday, Nov. 16.

Rice says in some cases, the damage is so severe, that people have to see it to believe it.

“We have a lot of rock faces along Highway 8 and the river has changed course,” Rice added.

“It is like you are living in The Twilight Zone because imagine if you will a river in a day or two days whatever changing course and dramatically. I’m not talking its moved a little bit to the left or two the right, I’m talking dramatically has changed course.”

A GoFundMe is hoping to raise $50,000 for 27 people who live in 12 properties along that stretch of highway just so they can access their lands, some of which are cut off entirely and only accessible by air.

“They desperately need to access their land and homes in order to winterize, and collect some clothing, personal items, business records and papers and so on, therefore helicopter rentals are required,” organizers said, in a statement.

“Then there is the need for assistance for accommodation while displaced, essentials to set up a temporary home, and for some, lost income.”

Rice says a number of people, including himself, lost land and have no ground to rebuild on.

“Their is no ground to rebuild. The river has swallowed their future. Insurance, forget about it, even you happened to be insured the verdict is it is an Act of God…no coverage,” he added.