#CaribooRD advising agricultural sector to prepare for flooding

Courtesy of the Cariboo RD's Emergency Operations Centre:

Due to ongoing flooding across the Cariboo Chilcotin region, the Cariboo Regional District is strongly advising ranchers and farmers to prepare for flooding and anticipate potential impacts to their property and livestock. Recommendations include: Moving all livestock to high ground before flooding impacts low-lying areas Ensuring sufficient feed will be accessible in safe locations for at least 3 days Protect buildings from flooding. The Regional District has sand and sandbags available for free at all regional volunteer fire halls and at the Cariboo Regional District storage facility at 1180 North MacKenzie Avenue in Williams Lake Survey any water crossings on private property such as bridges or culverts to assess risk of crossings being damaged or washed away. Take precautions and determine alternate routes if water crossings are lost or become structurally unsafe Plan to ‘shelter in place’ for at least 3 days Register for the Cariboo Regional District Emergency Notification System at https://member.everbridge.net/index/453003085612292#/signup to receive a text, phone call or email regarding Evacuation Alerts and Orders. Maintain physical distancing during all activities, to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission in our community. For advice and guidance for sandbagging during a pandemic, visit this link  https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/emergency-response-and-recovery/flood-response If you are experiencing flooding issues, please contact the CRD’s public information line at 1-866-759-4977 between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. After hours, please call the Provincial Emergency Reporting Line at 1-800-663-3456. Find sandbagging information at: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/assets/gov/public-safety-and-emergency-services/emergency-preparedness-response-recovery/embc/flooding/sandbagging.pdf For the latest alerts and orders, please visit the Cariboo Regional District’s flooding information page The CRD encourages all residents of the region to take the following precautions to reduce the risk associated with potential flooding: Prepare personal emergency supply kits for your home, car and work (plan for at least a three-day supply of food and water for each family member) Have a grab-and-go kit ready if you have to leave your home quickly Keep important papers in watertight containers and have a record of your valuables in a safe place Monitor local media for breaking news and flooding information Watch for flooding warning signs: increase in height and intensity of water flows, mudslides, debris in creeks, colour changes in water, or leaning trees Know that banks of rivers and streams may be unstable and dangerous Keep a safe distance away from fast flowing water, especially children Teach your children about flood safety Consider arrangements for your pets and any livestock Find more information on flood preparedness, current freshet conditions and emergency updates at the CRD’s Website at cariboord.ca or Emergency Operations Facebook page at facebook.com/CRDEmergencyOperations.