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.

Learn more about sandbagging from the PreparedBC.

 Recommended method for sandbag diking

Sandbag Safety for Volunteers [PDF - 1 MB]

LOCATION CONTACT PERSON CONTACT # DIRECTIONS TO ACCESS SANDBAGS DIRECTIONS TO ACCESS SAND
Lardeau Valley Community Club Meadow Creek Hall Manager: Amanda Cutting 250-366-4236 Sang bags are in the ambulance bay which is to the back right hand side of the building of Lardeau Valley Community Club building, 13429 Hwy 31, Meadow Creek, BC V0G 1N0 Sand is behind the Lardeau Valley Community Club, 13429 Hwy 31, Meadow Creek, BC V0G 1N0. Right in front of the vacant cement pad.
Balfour Fire Hall Fire Chief Pat Hergott 250-551-7283 Balfour Fire Hall, 308 Beggs Road, Nelson, BC V1L 6S5 behind building about 10' from dumpster Balfour Fire Hall, 308 Beggs Road, Nelson, BC V1L 6S5 behind building about 10' from dumpster
Harrop Fire Hall  Fire Chief Pat Hergott 250-551-7283 Harrop Fire Hall, 6430 Harrop-Procter Rd, Nelson, BC V1L 6R1 Far right side of the fire hall building.(next to exsisting pile). Harrop Fire Hall, 6430 Harrop-Procter Rd, Nelson, BC V1L 6R1 Far right side of the fire hall building.(next to exsisting pile).
Blewett Fire Hall Fire Chief Denis lavoie 250-354-1004 Blewett Fire Hall, 4389 Carlson Rd, Nelson, BC V1L 6X3 No Sand on site.
Burton Fire Chief Brian Harrop 250-265-3492 Sand Bags: Burton Fire Hall, 125 Burton Main Road. Burton BC V0G 1E0 Refuse station which is gate;contact fire dept who has key to grounds.
Crawford Bay Works Yard YRB Scott Mitchinson 250-227-9217 Crawford Bay Works Yard 16399 Hwy 3A Crawford Creek Pit (only if flood emergency, make arrangements with Scott)
Crescent Valley Fire Hall Fire Chief Ryan Durand 250-505-4776     Fire Hall, 1365 Highway 6, Crescent Valley Fire Hall, 1365 Highway 6, Crescent Valley
Edgewood Kurtis Hopp, (YRB)  250-265-7551             250-265-7074 YRB Yard in Edgewood - 202 Cemetary rd. Edgewood Edgewood Dump Road, about halfway to the lake
Fauquier Fire Hall Fire Chief Matt Feiffer  250-265-1765 Fauquier Fire Hall, 609 Willow St, Fauquier, BC V0G 1K0 Fauquier Fire Hall, 609 Willow St, Fauquier, BC V0G 1K0
Hills Fire Hall Director/ Fire Chief Tyler Bradley  250-362-7016 4480 Highway 6, New Denver, BC V0G 1S1 (physical location is in Hills though) Start on the drivers left of Firehall. Behind the firehall there is a driveway leading further up to the left, follow it back then take a right at the end of the driveway toward an outbuilding. Next to the building you will see some road cones around a tarp on the ground. Call Tyler if you need further directions. 4480 Highway 6, New Denver, BC V0G 1S1 (physical location is in Hills though) Start on the drivers left of Firehall. Behind the firehall there is a driveway leading further up to the left, follow it back then take a right at the end of the driveway toward an outbuilding. Next to the building you will see some road cones around a tarp on the ground. Call Tyler if you need further directions.
Kaslo Fire Hall Fire Chief Doug Yee 250-505-8175 Fire Hall, 529 Arena Ave, Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0  Behind the fire Hall Fire Hall, 529 Arena Ave, Kaslo, BC V0G 1M0 Behind the fire Hall
Nakusp Fire Hall Fire Chief Terry Warren 250-265-0230               Public Works Warehouse,  Nakusp Public Works Yard, 1325 Hot Springs Road, Nakusp, BC V0G 1R0 None currently, but sand would also be kept in the public works yard.
North Shore Fire Hall Fire Chief Jay Marshall 250-354-9349 North Shore Fire Hall, 2703 Greenwood Rd, Nelson, BC V1L 6L1 (Upper parking lot). North Shore Fire Hall, 2703 Greenwood Rd, Nelson, BC V1L 6L1 (Upper parking lot).
Ootischenia Fire Hall Fire Chief Len Coates 250-304-8685 Ooteschenia Fire Hall, 119 Ootischenia Rd, Castlegar, BC V1N 4L7 Ooteschenia Fire Hall, 119 Ootischenia Rd, Castlegar, BC V1N 4L7
PassCreek Fire Hall Fire Chief Aaron Bebelman 250-505-7786 Pass Creek Fire Hall 1789 Winter Rd, Castlegar, BC V1N 4S6 (11km from City of Castlegar) Old regional district dump site has sand
Passmore Fire Hall Fire Chief Gord Ihlen 250-551-0430 Passmore Fire Hall, 3725 Hwy. 6 Slocan Park, BC V0G 2E0 Back of the Passmore Fire Hall - to the left of dumpster. Passmore Fire Hall, 3725 Hwy. 6 Slocan Park, BC V0G 2E0 Back of the Passmore Fire Hall - to the left of dumpster.
Riondel Fire Hall Fire Chief Cory Medhurst 250-551-1352 Riondel Fire Hal, 237 Fowler Street, Riondel, Riondel, BC V0B 2B0  - by the flagpole Riondel Fire Hal, 237 Fowler Street, Riondel, Riondel, BC V0B 2B0  - by the flagpole
Robson Fire Hall Fire Chief Jeff Grant 250-304-8223 Robson Fire Hall, 3037 Waldie Ave, Castlegar, BC V1N 4V3 Rialto Creek Forest Service Rd
Salmo, Village of Director Fred Paton 250-509-2445 KP Park, along Fourth Street, Salmo BC at the  Ball Diamond. KP Park, along Fourth Street, Salmo BC at the  Ball Diamond.
Old Silverton Fire Hall Fire Chief Derek Hicks 250-505-4852 Silverton Fire Hall: 410 Hume st. Silverton  - Left hand side of Firehall. Silverton Fire Hall: 410 Hume st. Silverton  - Left hand side of Firehall.
Slocan Fire Hall Fire Chief Devin Lindsay 250-355-2945 or call 250-551-0776 if urgent Slocan Fire Hall, 8877 Slocan Road South, Slocan, BC, V0G 2C0 -Near the transfer station. Slocan Fire Hall, 8877 Slocan Road South, Slocan, BC, V0G 2C0 -Near the transfer station.
Slocan Public Works Acting Supervisor Lachland McGreal 250-355-2500 or the Admistrative Office 250 355 2277  Slocan Public Works: 503 Slocan Street (0700-1530) Slocan Public Works: 503 Slocan Street (0700-1530)
Tarrys Fire Hall Fire Chief Greg Patterson 250-551-4100 Tarrys Fire Hall, 2103 Hwy 3A, Castlegar, BC V1N 4N1 Front of the Hall Tarrys Fire Hall, 2103 Hwy 3A, Castlegar, BC V1N 4N1 Front of the Hall
Winlaw Fire Hall Fire Chief Stephanie Whitney 250-226-7353 Winlaw Fire Hall, 5741 BC-6, Winlaw, BC V0G 2J0 south side of parking lot where sand-sign is. Winlaw Fire Hall, 5741 BC-6, Winlaw, BC V0G 2J0 south side of parking lot where sand-sign is.
Yahk/Kingsgate Community Hall  Cynthia Rose President of Community Hall 250-919-5699 Yahk Kingsgate Community Hall 8790 Railway Ave, Yahk, BC V0B 2P0 Yahk Kingsgate Community Hall 8790 Railway Ave, Yahk, BC V0B 2P0
Ymir Fire Hall Fire Chief Josh Currie 250-777-1301 Ymir Fire Hall, 7208 1st Avenue, Ymir, BC, V0G2K0 Ymir Fire Hall, 7208 1st Avenue, Ymir, BC, V0G2K0 Across the road from fire hall, next to railway tracks on 1st Avenue.

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The content on this page was last updated May 5 2023 at 9:21 AM