Kimberley’s Morrison Subdivision and a portion of Wallinger Street closest to the Centennial Centre field are flooded after Kimberley Creek exploded over its banks last night (April 24).

Subdivision residents say water levels rose between two and three feet following an evening-long deluge, exacerbating two previous days of basement/crawlspace flooding.

To combat the surge in water on Kimberley Creek, with recent warm weather and heavy rains responsible, the city has been pumping water into Taylor Slough and by using some hastily dug trenches, water is also being channeled onto Wallinger Street and then into city storm sewers, which deposit the water into Mark Creek.

Residents living in the Morrison Subdivision say their basements or crawl spaces are flooded, with some having as much as four-feet of water to others with only a few inches. Sump pumps are running constantly and residents, along with friends, family and neighbours are running pumps and sand-bagging.

“The community has really come through,” said Waldie Road resident Kristina Knudsen. “People from all over town – not just from the

neighbourhood” have pitched in to help, whether it is move valuables from the reach of the water to sand-bagging.

Living in the Morrison Subdivision for five years, Kristina and her husband Kyle said they’ve never seen Kimberley Creek rise so high, where it is currently surrounding or abutting almost 20 homes.

“We’ve seen the creek come up to the tops of the banks in our neighbour’s yard, but that’s as far as it has come up,” said Kyle Knudsen, adding he has two sump pumps running constantly to remove the steady trickle of water entering his basement.

“They just have to figure out where to put all the water – otherwise they will flood elsewhere,” he said of the city workers.

Mayor Ron McRae said he’s never seen such an event in Kimberley, though the flood is similar to one about 10 years ago.

“The volume of water is more,” he said, adding he’s pleased with how the city and its residents have banded together to help out.

The Morrison Subdivision, once a pig farm, is a flood plain, McRae said, noting that Kimberley Creek and Lois Creek, normally a trickle and now a raging torrent, have combined to create “a pond like effect.” Kimberley Creek runs below the Centennial Centre field and empties into Mark Creek, but the channel has been surpassed by the flow and water has spilled across the flatland leading to the edge of the city.

City crews have a row of sandbags along Wallinger Ave. and several homes have been impacted, McRae said.

The city held an emergency information session last night (April 24) to warn residents about the possibility of flooding. And then a heavy rainfall proved them correct.

“We were able to provide as much information as we could,” McRae said, adding the city is trying as best as it can to help property owners out. “Certainly, people are anxious,” he said. “But people have been very good. They understand we have what we have to work with.”

With continuing warm weather and more rain forecast, the evacuation alert that was issued this morning (April 25), remains in place, said emergency information officer Loree Duczek.

“We are encouraged to see the water levels going down today, but will continue to monitor the situation closely over the next few days,” McRae said. “Crews have been working non-stop since the water levels rose late last night and will continue with their pumping, sand-bagging and diking efforts through the night tonight.”

Eight homes have been evacuated thus far and 19 people have received assistance through the reception centre at the Kimberley Curling Club, Duczek said. “Anyone from Morrison Subdivision or the section of Wallinger Avenue with the house numbers between two and 98 who are choosing to leave their homes are asked to register at the reception centre,” she added.

McRae said he has been impressed with his community’s response to the flood.

“We have had fantastic support from the public,” he said, adding, “We had volunteers and students from Selkirk (Secondary School) helping with sand-bagging since early this morning and have had offers of assistance from local businesses. It really speaks to the heart of this community.”

Taking the initiative to help out was the (Life Education Entrepreneurial Skills) Lees Sparks Youth Centre, which has been feeding city workers and volunteers all day. Hot dogs, snacks, drinks and a clean washroom were available to a host of people pitching in to help the city.

“We were packed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.” feeding city workers and providing water, said centre manager Bev Middlebrook.

“It’s been a place of rest and it’s been teaching the kids to give back to their community,” she said, adding the hungry high school students who have taken shifts throughout the day filling and loading sandbags, “pretty much cleaned us out!”

She said they had to make an emergency visit to the Kimberley Food Bank to get more food and drinks to give away.

“We’ll be here all week – for as long as we are needed,” Middlebrook said.

McRae said the city is working on a bylaw and policies that can provide guidance to the city and Morrison Subdivision residents moving forward, to deal with instances of Kimberley Creek spilling its banks.

However, the city bears no responsibility for the flood, he added.

“The city doesn’t shoulder the liability for that,” he said, noting residents do have an option for compensation through the Provincial Emergency Program.

During the duration of the flood, Kimberley RCMP will be making regular patrols of the impacted areas, as well as city emergency crews.

For more images of the Kimberley Creek flood, please see: https://www.e-know.ca/news/images-of-the-kimberley-creek-flood/

Ian Cobb/e-KNOW

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