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Region bracing for possible severe thunderstorms
The possibility of severe weather this weekend has the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) urging residents to remain vigilant about being aware and prepared for changing conditions.
On Saturday, a vigorous cold front is forecast to cross southern B.C. generating strong thunderstorms, with the possibility of hail, heavy rain, lightning and strong winds. The forecast is calling for 10-40mm of rain across the East Kootenay through the weekend, with an additional 10- 15mm possible with the isolated storm cells.
“We know the cold front will be moving across the region. What we don’t know is exactly where the thunderstorm activity will be, how much rain might fall or how severe it may be,” said RDEK Information Officer Loree Duczek. “We can’t stress enough how important it is for people to be prepared in the event of an emergency. It’s not just about being prepared for flooding. At this time or year, there can be a number of unexpected impacts from severe weather and it is important for everyone to have a family emergency plan and to be prepared to sustain yourself for up to 72 hours.”
This weekend’s forecast increases the need for those living near creeks or waterways, or with properties prone to overland flooding, to take proactive steps to protect their property. To help, self-fill sandbag stations have been set up in numerous locations around the region, including a new one in Hosmer. A full list of sandbag station locations is available on www.rdek.bc.ca.
There is an Evacuation Notification System for the East Kootenay and everyone is encouraged to sign up to be notified of evacuation alerts or orders. The service is free and available to everyone through a simple registration process. Once you have registered at least one location, you can choose to receive notifications via text or by phone to both mobile and landlines. There is also an app that can be downloaded to smartphones.
To learn more about how to prepare for emergencies, build an emergency kit or create a family emergency plan, visit PreparedBC.ca.
Continued updates and information on the flooding in Windermere Creek will be posted via the RDEK’s email groups, website and social media pages. To sign up for the email notification or the Evacuation Notification Alert system, visit www.rdek.bc.ca.
e-KNOW file photo
RDEK
