Partially cleaned out bathroom from a home in Savona affected by Sunday's flash flooding/via Lorne Doerkson

UPDATE 7 p.m. – In the wake of the long-weekend flooding in Savona, the Thompson Nicola Regional District is looking to Victoria for some help.

“The TNRD has applied for Disaster Financial Assistance with the province,” TNRD Director for the Savona area, Mike Grenier, told Radio NL Tuesday.  “While we wait for the province to declare the situation, we’re encouraging affected home owners to register their address and contact info with the TNRD.”

By applying to the DFA program, the TNRD may be able to free up provincial funds to help people in Savona clean up and rebuild from the flash flooding, which hit late Sunday afternoon.

Grenier says the affected property owners need to be as proactive as possible, documenting the damage and teeing up help on their own.

“I would encourage people to contact their insurance agent as soon as possible to determine the extent of insurance that they have,” suggested Grenier. “I would suggest that they log time when they’re mucking out their basements and extricating themselves from this flood event. Take pictures and document costs and any receipts of repair.”

Of the 20 homes which were inundated with water, mud and other debris, three of them have been determined as uninhabitable at the moment.

Those people are being put up in area hotels through the TNRD’s Emergency Management program.

The TNRD also a “significant financial donation” from Enbridge means it is able to partner with the Skeetchestn Indian Band and Savona Improvement District to help affected Savona residents clear away debris.

“Commencing Wednesday July 3, 2024 Skeetchestn Indian Band will have volunteers in the community assisting with debris removal,” the TNRD said. “The initial focus will be on mud, trees, and organic materials, which will be gathered and taken to the Savona Transfer Station for processing.

“Residents who have this organic material on their properties are encouraged (as able) to move it to the curbside for pick up.”

There will also be curbside collection of household flood debris on Monday, July 8. Residents are being asked to sort debris into several piles with more details available here.

“Skeetchestn Indian Band volunteers, and the TNRD contractors will not be entering structures or private property to remove material or assist with clean up,” the statement added.

More information from the TNRD and Interior Health on what to do before, during, and after floods can be found online.