Despite a break in the weather, with no rain the past 24 hours, the warm afternoon temperatures have caused snowmelt and water flows in Joseph Creek in Cranbrook to increase Friday afternoon.

Public Works crews and equipment were at Steeples Elementary School again this afternoon to deal with flooding. Crews are actively sandbagging around the school building.

Public Works also advises that Joseph Creek is coming over the bridge at 1A Street South and 15th Avenue South around the apartment buildings across from Mount Baker Secondary School – a traditional spring flood area. It is not expected to worsen in that area, but crews are placing sandbags around sidewalk at the bridge to assist the nearby apartments.

Residents are also advised to please stay away from any creeks, including Joseph Creek and lakes including both Elizabeth and Idlewild Lake. Ice conditions on both lakes will most likely be very poor and someone may be able to fall through. The weather forecast is calling for continued warm temperatures, with the possibility of some showers overnight Saturday and into Sunday.

Additionally, the city issued a water quality advisory early Friday afternoon for residents on the municipal water system. This is NOT a boil water advisory. This is only precautionary.

Residents with young children, the elderly or those with a weakened immune system may wish to boil their water for at least one (1) full minute at a rolling boil before using for things like drinking, washing fruits and vegetables or brushing teeth.

Officials advise that the turbidity level (sediment in the water) is approaching 1 NTU, which under regulations from Interior Health requires the municipality to issue the advisory. The rise in the turbidity level is due to the excessive run off stemming from the flooding, warm temperatures and rainfall experienced around the region over the past 48 hours.

The City of Cranbrook will continue to monitor the water over the course of the weekend and keep the public up to date on any changes. For more information about Interior Health Drinking Water Advisories and Notifications, please visit www.interiorhealth.ca/YourEnvironment/DrinkingWater/Pages/AdvisoriesNotifications.aspx .

Meantime, Public Works crews have been working all day dealing with the backlog of calls for assistance from residents on Thursday and dealing with temporarily filling many new potholes that have popped up over the past few days.

Any residents who wish to get sandbags for their properties can pick up filled sandbags at the Public Works yard on Cobham Avenue.

If you are still experiencing a flooding related emergency or are concerned about the imminent potential for one, please call the Provincial Emergency Communications Centre at 1-800-663-3456. You can also get some additional information on the Emergency Management BC website atwww.embc.gov.bc.ca/em/floods/index.html.

City of Cranbrook

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