With hot weather in the forecast, the Village of Cache Creek is still bracing for the potential of more flooding next week.

Emergency Operations Centre Information Officer, Wendy Coomber, says flood mitigation work has shifted from Cache Creek itself to the Bonaparte River, which is of concern right now.

“This morning, we heard that there may still be some snow north of us and that this weekend with the lovely warm weather, it could trigger that,” Coomber said. “If that is the case, we could be seeing the effects by Monday or Tuesday of next week, unfortunately.”

“We have a lot of equipment still around the creek taking out the rock that we put in during response. The creek is finally under a manageable condition but yeah, we’re still watching the river.”

Coomber says there are 128 homes on evacuation order and 25 on evacuation alert in Cache Creek, noting the river is close to spilling its banks in some areas of Cache Creek.

“In the lowest parts, [the river level is] closer to topping than in others, so the closest would be two to three inches away, whereas the higher areas probably have about six to eight inches,” Coomber said.

A few business owners have been allowed to return, though Coomber notes there is a lot of clean up work to be done before some of them can reopen.

“A lot of mud, lot of debris. The ones with water damage obviously will have a lot more work ahead of them than the ones with just the mud in their parking lots,” she said.

“There were a few businesses that haven’t been assessed yet but of the ones that have been, most of them are welcome to re-enter and open when the can, but the highways being what they are, its going to be a very difficult season for the businesses because traffic really has not where to stop as they go through town.”

For the latest on flooding information in Cache Creek, go here or to the Village of Cache Creek Facebook page here.

Evacuees Being Urged to Register with ESS

The Village of Cache Creek is asking the roughly 300 residents who have been evacuated to register with Emergency Support Services as soon as possible.

Wendy Coomber says it will help the village keep track of where people are staying, and if they need any supports.

“Well, I think we’ve had about 80 registrants in Kamloops,” she said. “We know that some are staying with friends or relatives close by here. That leaves you know about a 100 or so that haven’t indicated where they are or what their plans are.”

A few other residents have been put up in motels in Cache Creek, with Coomber telling evacuees who do not have a place to go to, to head to the ESS reception centre at McArthur Island.

“It would be nice to know where they are just so we can account for them,” she said.

“A few days from now, if they are still under evacuation, then we can tell the ESS folks that we still have some people who are going to be coming to them.”