SUMMERLAND, B.C. — Farmers hit by floods in central British Columbia may be eligible to receive disaster financial assistance.
The funds are available to eligible farmers and others affected by ongoing floods that began May 4.
Meanwhile, two men remained missing May 8, one whose home was swept away in a mudslide in Tappen, near Salmon Arm. Relatives reported the 76-year-old man was inside the home when it was caught in the slide.
As well, Cache Creek Fire Chief Clayton Cassidy is presumed to have been swept away by flood waters while checking water levels in a nearby creek. His vehicle has been found near a washed out bridge where he was last seen. Search and rescue operations were continuing.
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Forecast leans toward cooling trend
July saw below average temperatures, August came in with near to slightly above average temperatures and September built on this warming trend with well above average temperatures for the month.
The B.C. River Forecasting Centre said snow melt and thunderstorms were to blame for the high water flows in rivers and streams in many areas.
The centre maintained its high stream flow advisory In the south interior, central interior, boundary and southeast but said a drying trend this week was expected to ease the situation.
In Kelowna, evacuation orders and evacuation alerts were issued and several new orders were posted May 8. Orders and alerts for other areas were rescinded because water levels in those places were no longer threatening homes.
A state of emergency has been declared for West Kelowna.
Losses to agriculture have not yet been assessed, but flooding in the regional districts of Thompson-Nicola, North Okanagan, Columbia Shuswap, Okanagan-Similkameen and Central Okanagan were expected to be affected.
The Disaster Financial Assistance program provides for up to 80 percent coverage of eligible damage exceeding $1,000 up to a maximum of $300,000 for uninsured losses.
