Access into Merritt will be prohibited as of 4 p.m. Monday (Nov. 15), due to the ongoing flooding situation and the failure of the wastewater treatment plant.
Barricades have been erected on Voght Street at the city’s northern junction of Highway 5, on Coldwater Road at the entrance from the southern junction of Highway 5, and Highway 8 at the western entrance to Merritt. RCMP will be ensuring no one enters the city.
Interior Health (IH) is working to evacuate all clients and patients within Merritt.
The health authority is evacuating care home residents from Coquihalla Gillis House, Nicola Meadows and The Florentine, as well as patients from the Nicola Valley Hospital and all community health clients.
The Nicola Valley Hospital and emergency department are closed until further notice. Anyone who requires emergency care should call 911 or visit the emergency department at the Kelowna General Hospital or the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops.
IH will continue to monitor flood activity across the region and has evacuation planning in place to support anyone who may be in isolation due to COVID-19.
Emergency Support Services (ESS) receptions are located at the following locations:
•Civic Centre, 1950 Mamette Avenue, Merritt
•McArthur Island, 1655 Island Parkway, Kamloops
•Parkinson Activity Centre, 1800 Parkinson Way, Kelowna
Evacuees should register online ess.gov.bc.ca or contact 1-800-585-9559 for more information.
Earlier on Monday Merritt residents were told to leave their homes as flooding wreaks havoc on the Thompson-region town.
The Coquihalla Highway, Highway 7, 3 and sections of Highway 1 are closed due to flooding and mudslides.
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@Jen_zee
jen.zielinski@bpdigital.ca
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