One of the hardest hit areas during November’s extreme flooding event was the Hwy 8 corridor between Merritt and Spences Bridge.
Dozens of properties were damaged or destroyed and hundreds of residents were forced to flee as the Nicola River cut off access and escape routes, washing out the bulk of Hwy 8.
Residents who called this area home remain displaced, for the most part. Merritt is the nearest community of significant size which offers the necessary amenities such as restaurants, grocery stores, fuel, and hotels. However, Merritt was also significantly damaged during the flooding, with nearly 400 homes being deemed unliveable in the aftermath. Add to that the fact that there were still evacuees in Merritt from the devastated community of Lytton and the logistics of supporting all those impacted grows more complicated.
Kamloops offers a Reception Centre and Emergency Support Services (ESS) but for some that is a lengthy trip, particularly with winter road conditions or for those who lack transportation.
In response, the Thompson Nicola Regional District has partnered with the Gold Country Communities Society to offer resiliency centre services in Cache Creek for residents affected by flooding along Hwy 8. This following a temporary, “pop-up” resiliency centre that was located in Spences Bridge.
“Gold Country staff are available to provide assistance to residents still displaced from their homes,” reads a statement from the TNRD.
“This includes assistance accessing funding through the Canadian Red Cross for temporary accommodation and meal expenses, and the Disaster Financial Assistance (DFA) application process. The DFA program is available through the BC government and provides funding for eligible expenses related to repairs and rebuilding following damage caused by the flooding event.”
The resiliency centre is based out of the Gold Country office, located at 1095 Todd Rd in Cache Creek. Please call or email to make an appointment at 250 457-6606, or [email protected].
