City of Penticton lifts local state of emergency amid subsided flood risk

Penticton’s State of Local Emergency has been lifted.

Amid the recent shift to warmer temperatures and drier days, the city is standing down on its emergency response as of Thursday afternoon, July 7, citing that the risk of flooding has been reduced.

A state of emergency was activated earlier this week during a flash rain event, resulting in the evacuation of 16 homes and 86 structures flooded.

“While the flood risk has subsided, lake levels are still high and flows in the creeks and the channel are moving fast,” the city said in its announcement.

Penticton’s emergency operations centre has been monitoring water levels in Okanagan Lake since June 16, preparing 10,000 sandbags for reserve in the process.

“Sandbags installed to protect the Okanagan Lake Marina will be removed this week,” the city added.

The state of emergency was instated to allow the city to access private property during Monday’s event, in which more than 12 millimetres of rain fell to the ground in a span of 45 minutes.

VIDEO: Flash flood causes 16 evacuations, 86 structures flooded

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