Relentless rain caused the Coldwater River, which runs through the southern Interior community, to overrun its banks Nov. 15, triggering an evacuation order for all 7,000 residents shortly after 7 a.m.
In a video statement posted to social media Sunday, Merritt Mayor Linda Brown said staff have completed rapid damage assessments of all properties and the city is ready to start rolling out its return-to-home plan.
“We will be able to bring some of you home in a few days,” said Brown.
A city statement says about 50 volunteers spent the weekend assessing the damage of properties in the flood inundation area with support from B.C. Housing, Merritt’s building inspection and fire departments, the City of Kamloops and the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations.
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British Columbians brace for more extreme weather, possible flooding on north coast
Based on this work, Brown said each property has been assigned a red, yellow or green status. The city is now developing a plan to allow access to “green” properties and will provide information to owners of “yellow” properties regarding further required steps before access is permitted.
Owners of “red” properties will likely remain evacuated for an extended period.
“Every day brings us a little closer to rebuilding our community,” said Brown, who noted residents should expect more information Monday about finding out the status of their property and what it means.
Wastewater system close to up and running again
Brown said city staff are also close to getting the wastewater system up and running again.
She said a testing laboratory stayed open in Kelowna over the weekend just to help out.
- Entire city of Merritt, B.C., ordered to evacuate after flooding of wastewater treatment plant
Water samples are being tested for total coliforms and E. coli. Samples take 24 hours to process and before the city can update its water status, it must submit multiple samples from different places, taken at different times.
“The results so far are good, but we need to bring more of the system online,” said Brown.
The evacuation order was issued two hours after city officials put out an alert asking citizens to immediately stop using water or flushing toilets.
“How do you run a city when no one can go to the bathroom?” said Greg Lowis, Merritt information officer.
Residents evacuated to Kamloops and Kelowna
When the order was issued, Merritt residents with odd-numbered addresses were asked to head to Kamloops, while residents with even-numbered addresses were asked to go to Kelowna.
- Federal assistance arrives in B.C. as province starts rebuilding from floods
On Sunday, the federal government announced it is waiving normal employment insurance rules for British Columbians left jobless by extreme flooding.
Federal Employment Minister Carla Qualtrough says those impacted should immediately apply for employment insurance benefits even if they wouldn’t normally be eligible.
In addition to the state of emergency, the province said Thursday that those affected by the floods will be eligible for financial assistance. Disaster financial assistance is available for anyone who is unable to obtain insurance to cover disaster-related losses, and applications are open until Feb. 12, 2022.