With the potential of flooding on the horizon, the City of Penticton announced Thursday morning that it's opened a public sandbag fill site at Fire Hall #202 at 285 Dawson Ave. (near Real Canadian Superstore).
The Fire Hall site will supply both the sand and the bags. Residents will need to fill the latter with the former.
The announcement comes as the region looks ahead to a weekend with possible heavy precipitation and on the same day the BC River Forecast Centre bumped its advisory for the Okanagan from "High Streamflow Advisory" to "Flood Watch."
Whereas a "High Streamflow Advisory" indicates that "river levels are rising or expected to rise rapidly and that minor flooding in low-lying areas is possible," a "Flood Watch" means "river levels may approach or exceed bankfull and that flooding of areas adjacent to affected rivers may occur."
There is one level beyond that, the "Flood Warning," in which "river levels have exceeded bankfull or will exceed bankfull imminently, and that flooding of areas adjacent to the rivers affected will result."
Nonetheless, the City remains "confident" that waterways like Ellis and Penticton Creeks and lakes like Okanagan and Skaha have the "capacity to absorb this weekend's weather."
It will, however, continue to monitor creek and lake levels and the weather forecast and is aware that water levels have risen in the past few days and could do so again.
"Should there be any changes," said the release, "the City will act promptly for the safety of people and property. The City reminds residents to exercise caution around fast-flowing bodies of water."
