The Village of Cache Creek has lifted an evacuation order that covered 78-units in the Sage and Sands Trailer Park.

Emergency Operations Centre Information Officer Wendy Coomber says the order was lifted as of 6 p.m. Thursday, May 18, after a nearby dyke along the Bonaparte River was inspected.

“Our engineers had a lot of concerns about it. The park owner and the dyke authority were asked to fix it and they tried to do their best but in the end, we found assistance from the BC Wildfire personnel who came into sandbag parts where the dyke has eroded,” she said.

“That gave us enough peace of mind to lift evacuation order.”

Residents in the trailer park – as well as some along Old Cariboo Road, Nugget Road, and Collins Road – were ordered to evacuate last Tuesday, May 9. Residents on Old Cariboo Road, Nugget Road, and Collins Road were allowed to return on Monday, May 15.

Coomber says the lifting of this final major evacuation order means the majority of Cache Creek residents should be able to return home before the May Long Weekend. All of the properties along Cache Creek and the Bonaparte River will remain on evacuation alert for the time being.

A total of three properties have been damaged by flooding, with Coomber noting there is a lot of clean up work that still needs to be done.

“We’re trying to work with the TNRD to get some debris management in place so residents know where they can take all the mud and slime and wooden debris and rocks,” she said.

“There are some places in Cache Creek right now, especially next to the creek that resemble a riverbed with the rock, the sand, and the beachfront. It’s crazy.”

Eligible residents with damaged properties will be able to apply for Disaster Financial Assistance to cover uninsurable losses. Coomber also says the village will be holding a “resiliency and recovery event” on May 31 where residents will be able to ask questions directly to government officials.

The deadline to apply for Disaster Financial Assistance is August 14.

With a boil water advisory across the village and water restrictions for some properties, Coomber had this message for returning Cache Creek residents.

“You know be patient, its hard to be when you’ve been out of your home for so long and you want to catch up,” she said.

“But you know, its summer. Just spend a few minutes to sit there in the sunshine and breathe and relax and let all the stress go and look forward to the next day.”