RDCK prepares for another year of flooding and slides
By Nelson Daily Staff
By Suzy Hamilton, The Nelson Daily
It could be another nasty year for weather related disasters in the West Kootenay.
And judging from 2012 events, the Regional District of Central Kootenay is preparing for more of the same.
“Last year was extraordinary,” said the RDCK’s chief administrative officer Brian Carruthers. “ It was unprecedented in scale and scope.
“All local governments are realizing that this is the norm.”
In 2012, there were at least two dozen significant events including the landslide at Johnson’s Landing in July that claimed four lives, flooding in many areas of the region, mudslides, erosions and subsequent road closures. Heavy winds also caused major damage.
An evacuation order remains for Johnson’s Landing until future risks are assessed, Carruthers said. “We are taking a precautionary approach.”
Serious complications from rainstorms in the region began June 7 when Crawford Creek backed up. Fourteen homes and businesses were evacuated including the only bank in town.
In addition, Highway 3A out of Crawford Bay washed out.
By the end of June, mudslides had occurred in the Slocan Valley and Robson, and a state of Local Emergency had been declared for RDCK areas B and C (Creston and area) due to widespread flooding.
By early July the land had slipped on an earthen dam at the HB minesite in Salmo, and erosion into Garland Bay was affecting Riondel residents.
After the Johnson’s Landing slide, a Class I slide in Thrums closed the highway and three homes were evacuated.
By the end of July, Keen Cooper, Hamil and Meadow Creeks had flooded and heavy winds had brought down trees and demolished vehicles inside a Creston building.
Numerous residents experienced flooding issues.
Carruthers said that an After Action report has been commissioned to assess the response of the RDCK which should be released next month. “We will learn how we handled 2012 and it will provide us with recommendations to be implemented for the upcoming year.
“We’re excited to have a road map. There’s always room for improvement.”
Emergency Operation Centres (EOC) are funded by the Ministry of Justice. Carruthers said the RDCK has set aside a contingency fund for disaster response but that the RDCK is reimbursed for costs. Numbers released in a report to the RDCK board said that $3 million were spent for repairs in the region.
Carruthers said that adequately trained staff is a priority. “There is a complete shift suddenly in an Emergency Operation Centre.”
Communication among the three centres in Nakusp, Creston and Nelson is essential as well as maximizing the forecasting and knowledge available from local agencies such as Ministry of Forests and the Southeast Fire Centre.
Carruthers said the RDCK is taking advantage of funding to reduce interface fires–wildland fires that put communities and people at risk. Currently the RDCK has submitted applications for Harrop Procter and the Boswell areas and expects to apply for more.
RDCK staff attended a Climate Change Resiliency Workshop this week in which local risks due to climate change were identified and possible actions considered.
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