Members from the Canadian Forces are being deployed to assist protecting vulnerable properties in Twin Lakes.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen released the information on Friday morning via their emergency management Twitter account.
EOC Update: May 18, 2018 9am - 44 members from @CanadianForces Edmonton deployed to Twin Lakes. Helping protect vulnerable properties. #bcfloods #2018freshet pic.twitter.com/cWjL17wLDe
— RDOS EOC (@EmergMgtRDOS) May 18, 2018
“It is fantastic having their support, it gives us more manpower,” said Christie Lang, emergency operations centre information officer. “Right now they are in Twin Lakes sandbagging in different areas and doing quite a bit of work there. Once completed they will be heading down to Osoyoos Lake to assist with sandbagging.”
Lang said she is unsure at this point how long the Canadian Forces services will be available to the regional district flooded areas.
The help comes after a visit to the Boundary area by public safety minister Mike Farnworth last week and South Okanagan-West Kootenay MP Richard Cannings provided support for the request to have military assistance with flooding.
Related: Kootenay-Boundary region requests military assistance in flooding relief
Cannings had also recently toured his constituency visiting flooded areas and the emergency operations centre in Grand Forks.
Related: MP Report: Difficult days ahead for flooded areas