By Michael Potestio, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Shock and uncertainty accompanied evacuees from the flooded City of Merritt who arrived in droves to an emergency reception centre on McArthur Island in Kamloops.
Families, elderly couples, parents pushing strollers and a few pets could be seen lining up at about noon on Monday, Nov. 15, outside the McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre that has been set up as an emergency reception centre for evacuees. Some residents emerged with manilla envelops and instructions to wait for a call from emergency social services (ESS) with a hotel placement. There were about 30 people at the reception centre at noon, with a lineup streaming out the front door.
The entire City of Merritt, with about 7,000 people, was evacuated on Monday morning due to rising flood waters that had compromised the city’s water and wastewater-treatment system.
Katrina Bennett was in disbelief when she heard on the radio at about 7 a.m. that her neighbourhood was being evacuated. She and her two teenage sons were already packing when firefighters banged on her door in the Collettville neighbourhood, telling them to leave.
She said her home was untouched by flood waters, as it’s on a hill, but noted it was a sad scene when she got onto Houston Street...continued.
For full article click HERE.
Shock and uncertainty accompanied evacuees from the flooded City of Merritt who arrived in droves to an emergency reception centre on McArthur Island in Kamloops.
Families, elderly couples, parents pushing strollers and a few pets could be seen lining up at about noon on Monday, Nov. 15, outside the McArthur Island Sport and Event Centre that has been set up as an emergency reception centre for evacuees. Some residents emerged with manilla envelops and instructions to wait for a call from emergency social services (ESS) with a hotel placement. There were about 30 people at the reception centre at noon, with a lineup streaming out the front door.
The entire City of Merritt, with about 7,000 people, was evacuated on Monday morning due to rising flood waters that had compromised the city’s water and wastewater-treatment system.
Katrina Bennett was in disbelief when she heard on the radio at about 7 a.m. that her neighbourhood was being evacuated. She and her two teenage sons were already packing when firefighters banged on her door in the Collettville neighbourhood, telling them to leave.
She said her home was untouched by flood waters, as it’s on a hill, but noted it was a sad scene when she got onto Houston Street...continued.
For full article click HERE.