News Release
Issued by: Regional District of Kootenay Boundary
Issued: Thursday, May 5, 2023 | 11 am PT
Website: emergency.rdkb.com
State of Local Emergency and Emergency Alert in place for Midway
An Evacuation Alert has been issued by the Regional District of Kootenay Boundary Regional Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) that applies to 47 properties in Midway that are within the floodplain, effective as of May 4, 2023 at 7 p.m. due to rising water levels.
The Village of Midway is also issuing a State of Local Emergency.
“The State of Local Emergency is necessary to set up works to protect critical infrastructure in the municipality,” said Mark Stephens, RDKB EOC Director. Stephens adds that private properties may need to be accessed in order to set up the flood protection.
Mayor Doug McMynn urges Midway residents to exercise extreme caution in flood-prone areas and around fast-moving water. “Please visit the RDKB’s emergency management page for up-to-date and official sources of information,” he said.
A full list of addresses as well as a map of the evacuation alert area in the RDKB, including the Village of Midway, is available at emergency.rdkb.com. This Evacuation Alert is in place to prepare residents to evacuate their premises or property should it be found necessary. Residents will be given as much advance notice as possible prior to an Evacuation Order; however, they may receive limited notice due to changing conditions.
The public is advised to exercise caution and stay clear of fast-flowing rivers and creeks and potentially unstable riverbanks. They are also requested to report any woody debris and log jams that have been mobilised during the high-streamflow period to FrontCounter BC.
What You Should Do:
· Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area, should an Evacuation Order be issued while separated.
· Pack essential items such as government-issued ID, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (e.g., insurance, credit, and mortgage information), immediate care needs for dependents or pets, and, if time and space permits, keepsakes for quick departure.
· Make arrangements to stay with family or friends (if possible).
· Prepare to move disabled persons, children and/or neighbours, if assistance is needed.
· Prepare to take pets with you and move livestock to a safe area (if possible).
· Arrange transportation for all your household.
· Fill the gas tanks of personal vehicles.
· Arrange accommodation for all members of the residence, if possible.
· Monitor for information on a potential Evacuation Order and location of Reception Centres.
The public is advised to exercise caution and stay clear of fast-flowing rivers and creeks and potentially unstable riverbanks. They are also requested to report any woody debris and log jams that have been mobilised during the high-streamflow period to FrontCounter BC.
Regularly monitor the emergency.rdkb.com website as well as the @RDKB_Emergency twitter feed for the latest emergency news, weather forecasts and alerts. Use it to find out the ways you can protect your home, how to make an emergency plan and build your grab & go bags so that you can leave at short notice if you must.
If you haven’t already done so, please sign up for our Emergency Notification System at https://voyent-alert.com/ca/community/#registration