Hundreds of homes ordered evacuated in the Kootenays due to rising rivers

UPDATE June 1, 2020:Evacuation orders remain in place for hundreds of southern B.C. properties on Monday morning, while Environment Canada has lifted all of its weather alerts for the province. Find our latest coverage here.

Heavy rainfall, snowmelt and rising rivers in the Kootenays have led to evacuation orders on more than 500 properties as of Sunday at 10 p.m. PT and an "unprecedented" evacuation alert covering nearly all the Regional District of Central Kootenay in B.C.

The largest number of evacuation orders are in the West Kootenay, where the entire watershed was under flood warning, which means river levels have exceeded their banks or will do so imminently, according to the River Forecast Centre.

There are also orders in place in ruralGrand Forks, in the Kootenay-Boundary region, and for one property in Cawston, where the Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen has declared a local state of emergency.

Evacuation orders are in place for the following areas as of 10 p.m. Sunday:

• Crawford Creek (Crawford Bay) in Electoral Area A.
• Duhamel Creek (North Shore of Kootenay Lake)in Electoral Area F.
• Broadwater Road(west of Castlegar) in Electoral Area J.
• Salmo/Ymir in Electoral Area G.
• Chopaka Roadin Cawston.
• Rural Grand Forks - Johnson Flats and Manly Meadows.
• Rural Grand Forks - Granby Road.

Residents and visitors are required to leave the affected areas immediately, and should check the evacuation order for the exact addresses affected and instructions on where to go.

The Regional District of Central Kootenay is directing residents from each evacuated area to check in with specific hotels, to access short-term assistance and emergency support.

"Due to COVID-19 we ask everyone to do their best to practice physical distancing and wash or sanitize their hands regularly," each order states.

The Regional District of Kootenay Boundary, which covers Grand Forks, is not opening reception centres due to COVID-19. Evacuees are encouraged to stay with friends or family if possible, and will be contacted directly by B.C. Emergency Support Services.

From Saturday night into Sunday, heavy rains battered the region, turning rivers from blue to brown.

On Sunday morning Environment Canada said in a statement that a thunderstorm moving up from Washington State could cause rising rivers, downed trees, flash flooding, and that it could be dangerous to workoutside.

A severe thunderstorm warning wasalso in effect for the Elk Valley region, with strong wind gusts and heavy rain.