An Evacuation Alert has been issued for 11 properties in Hosmer after Mine Creek surged again this afternoon.

“We have issued the Evacuation Alert out of an abundance of caution as Mine Creek has jumped its banks and is flowing into some of the lower lying properties in Hosmer along Elk Street and Victoria Street,” explained Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) Information Officer Loree Duczek.

“Residents who are under Evacuation Alert should be ready to leave on a moment’s notice should conditions worsen. We are encouraging them to have a grab and go kit ready by the door, so that in the event an evacuation order is issued, they are ready to go.” Important papers (like insurance papers), medications, valuables, supplies for children and pets, photos or hard drives are all examples of things that can be included in a grab and go kit.

Members of the RDEK’s Hosmer and Elko Fire Departments and Sparwood Search and Rescue are busy filling and placing sandbags in an effort to help direct the water and equipment is being used to open up some ditching. A self-fill sandbag station has been set up at the Hosmer Pub parking lot and residents should bring shovels and gloves.

There has also been localized flooding on Hosmer Creek, and Highway 3 has been closed four kilometres north of Fernie since last night after Hartley Creek jumped its banks. A detour is in place on Dicken Road and traffic is continuing to move this evening.

South of Fernie, Cokato Road remains closed from the intersection of Thompson Road and just north of the Morrissey cattleguard. Four residents from two low-lying properties have been evacuated and, while access has been temporarily cut off to a number of other residences, no further evacuations are required at this time.

The RDEK completed an aerial assessment of Cokato Road late this afternoon. The breach at Cokato Road and Cokato Creek has been largely repaired and is now passable for local traffic only. There are two other sections of Cokato Road that have been completely cut off by slides: the intersection of Cokato Road and Thompson Road and a section approximately 100 metres north of the cattleguard at Morrissey.

With temperatures expected to dip tonight, conditions could go from rain to snow across much of the East Kootenay before improving tomorrow.

A travel advisory was issued for the Sparwood to Elko corridor earlier today due to the potential for heavy rain, falling temperatures and wind. For the latest information on highway conditions, visit www.drivebc.ca .

RDEK

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