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Development & Community Sustainability Services

Floods

Be flood prepared

Floods are the most frequent natural hazards in Canada, and the most costly in terms of property damage. Floods can occur in any region, in the countryside or in cities. In the past, floods have affected hundreds of thousands of Canadians. They can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of a thick snow pack, ice jams, or more rarely, the failure of a natural or human-made dam. Find out more from FloodSmart Canada.

In the Kootenays, snowpack and weather-related events, including flooding, are common occurrences in the spring. The RDCK is asking residents and visitors to take the following steps to be flood prepared:

Take steps to protect your home and property

Residents are responsible for securing their home and property in the event of a disaster—sand bagging is one example. In advance of the freshet/flooding season, Emergency Management BC provides sand bags to residents if the need becomes apparent.

Sandbags

In advance of the freshet/flooding season, Emergency Management BC provides sandbags to residents if the need becomes apparent. In such cases, unfilled sandbags and sand would be available for residents who are experiencing or want to be prepared for flooding. Information about where to pick up sandbags and sand is shared with residents as needed.

Sand and sandbag locations * (locations will be added once confirmed)

LOCATIONADDRESSHOURSSANDSANDBAGS
Balfour Fire Hall308 Beggs Road – behind building about 10′ from dumpster24/7 until stock runs outYESYES
Crawford Bay Gravel PitGravel Pit Road next to Crawford Creek – few hundred metres before Crawford Creek Road (please not the signage directing residents to the correct sand piles)24/7 until stock runs outYESYES (limited stock in the shed at the gravel pit)
Harrop Fire Hall6430 Harrop-Procter Rd. – far right side of the fire hall building24/7 until stock runs outNOYES
Kaslo Works Yard437 Spruce Ave. – far west pile for sandOpen for public access this Friday, Saturday, and SundayYESYES
Lardeau Valley Community Club Building13429 Highway 31, Meadow Creek – in the ambulance bay which is to the back right hand side of the building24/7 until stock runs outYESYES
Nakusp Public Works Yard1325 Hot Springs Rd. Residents must call to arrange access 250.265.1233 – can call 24/7YESYES
Passmore Fire Hall3725 Highway 6 – to left of the dumpster24/7 until stock runs outYESYES
Silverton Village Office421 Lake Ave. – sand shed24/7 until stock runs outYESYES
Slocan Fire Hall8877 Slocan South Road, Slocan BC – go to the west side of the hall, near the seacan24/7 until stock runs outYESYES
Tarrys Fire Hall2103 Highway 3A – front of the hall24/7 until stock runs outYESNO

Learn more about sandbagging from PreparedBC.

Recommended method for sandbag diking

Sandbag Safety for Volunteers [PDF – 1 MB]

Contact Information

250.352.7701

emergency@rdck.bc.ca