Lumby residents and businesses continue to clean up from the high water that washed in late last week. The tide rolled through buildings and caused significant damage.
Flooding is nothing new in Lumby given that the community is built along two creeks — Bessette and Duteau. But the extent of this latest emergency reached new heights.
“I was talking to someone who has been here 60 years and he has never seen it like that,” said Mayor Kevin Acton.
“This is three years in a row (for flooding). It’s not like it used to be when it was every 10 years.”
Given that there seems to be more frequency to flooding, Acton’s call to try and minimize future situations makes sense, particularly because residents and businesses can’t continue to endure damage that is rarely covered by insurance. Also, consider the economic losses as businesses close for clean-up.
Given that Vernon-Monashee MLA Eric Foster lives in Lumby, he should understand first-hand the implications from flooding. He is obviously the first person the village should be approaching to pursue mitigation measures. Considerable money will be required for creek dredging or engineered berms — far more cash than Lumby taxpayers can afford on their own.
Discussions also need to be held with the Regional District of North Okanagan, which has a water treatment plant on Duteau Creek. Are there actions that can be taken to reduce flows heading downstream so there is less potential flooding?
All of the solutions are complex but now is the time for all levels of government to put flooding at the top of the agenda.
Residents need to know something is being done before the tide rolls in again.
