Recent downpours in many parts of B.C.'s southern Interior have added to flooding woes across the already soggy region, prompting new flood warnings for several rivers, forcing thousands out of their homes and closing a number of roads.
EmergencyInfoBC, the body that provides information during provincial emergencies, says flooding has led to evacuation orders or alerts in seven regional districts and seven First Nations around the province.
Kootenay-Boundary region
Around 3,000 residents have been ordered out of their homes in the Regional District of Kooteney-Boundary due to "imminent danger to life and health due to flooding."
The order applies to all low-lying areas near the Granby, Kettle and West Kettle rivers, as well as other areas under an evacuation alert yesterday.
Addresses in Beaverdell, Midway and Grand Forks have been told to leave their homes immediately by using Highway 3 or Highway 33.
All you who are in the Boundary floodplain and especially in the Granby, all evacuation alerts will be changing to evacuation orders today.
—@RDKB_EmergencyOfficials say river levels are reaching those not seen since the disastrous flood year of 1948, when most of southeast B.C. was under water, entire towns were destroyed and lives were lost.
The banks of the boundary rivers are expected to peak on Thursday or Friday, which will mean more washouts and evacuations to come, according to the Emergency Operations Centre.
The River Forecast Centre has issued flooding warnings for the Kettle River, West Kettle River, Granby River and surrounding tributaries in the Boundary region. There is also a high streamflow advisory for the West and East Kootenay.
Okanagan-Similkameen region
Patients at a hospice in the Okanagan have been moved amid flooding fears.
Ruth Edwards with the North Okanagan Hospice Society says nine people were moved from a facility in Vernon to the local hospital when a nearby creek rose dramatically yesterday.
The patients will stay at the hospital until further notice.
Edwards says the creek is expected to go down again today, but there are concerns that warmer weather and rainfall in the forecast could cause flooding this weekend.
The River Forecast Centre has issued flood warnings for Mission Creek in Kelowna.
Flood watches are posted for a number of rivers, including the Similkameen, whose high water has cut Highway 3 west of Keremeos and led to states of local emergency being declared in parts of the Okanagan-Similkameen Regional District, as well as the Town of Osoyoos.
Town of Osoyoos infrastructure being sand bagged and armoured against rising waters. Pictured here is one of several 'lift stations' affected. <a href="https://t.co/FGMlWI5apJ">pic.twitter.com/FGMlWI5apJ</a>
—@EmergMgtRDOSThompson-Nicola region
Some people in the Lower Nicola will be allowed home this afternoon after being under an evacuation order for several days.
The Thompson-Nicola Regional District issued an evacuation order for the Lower Nicola trailer park and three homes on Marshall Road on Sunday; one property on Marshall Road remains under the evacuation order.
After briefly reopening to local traffic, nearby Highway 8 was closed again in both directions Thursday morning at 10 Mile Bridge, 10 kilometres west of Merritt.
While things seem to be receding in the area, flood conditions have forced the Nicola-Similkameen school district to cancel classes at Nicola Canford Elementary for the fourth day in a row.
The school itself isn't flooded, but the bridge near Guichon Creek remains closed, cutting access to the school.
Stephen McNiven, superintendent of Nicola-Similkameen school district, said the bridge closure impacts about 100 secondary school students and 160 elementary school students.
McNiven said this is the second year they've had to close the school because of flooding. He has no idea when the school will reopen.
"It's a day-by-day decision," he said.
With files from CBC's Bob Keating and The Canadian Press.