Cherry Creek residents flood fears turn to frustration

May 19, 2017 | 5:25 PM

KAMLOOPS — Flood fears have turned into frustration for Cherry Creek residents.

On Thursday half a dozen property owners were allowed back into their homes after being forced to leave due to high waters.

But another six are still under an evacuation order, and unable to return home before the long weekend.

For the residents who are allowed to return home, there is relief, but they are now facing the unpleasant aftermath of the floods and what mother nature has left behind.

It’s a disaster that Doreen Prasad says could’ve been avoided.

“Every year, debris flows and it blocks the waterways and backs everything up into my property.”

Presad’s basement is flooded, with the home deemed a complete write-off.

She says she reached out to the Ministry of Transportation numerous times over the years to install a larger culvert or even build a bridge just west of her home to avoid debris back-up.

A new culvert arrived earlier this week.

“It was really annoying because the culverts that are there right now, they’re the same size culvert that’s caused a large backlog of water over the 13 year period.”

While some homeowners frustrations are with the ministry of transportation, for others it’s the process of applying for financial aid.

Wayne Holm’s home has been deemed safe to occupy by the TNRD.

His backyard remains a flood zone.

“At the gazebo, there used to be three barbecues and a little fridge,” said Holm. “They’re completely gone.”

The senior is in the process of applying for financial aid but he says it’s an expensive process.

“What I didn’t like was you have to repair all your stuff first and then bill them,” said Helm. “If nobody’s seen what’s wrong, you can overbill or underbill. The way I see it right now, if I got some rocks to re-do the retaining walls, I’d be happy.”

Further down the road, a tack shop is completely ruined.

The homeowner plans to re-build further away from the creek.

For Brigitte Dorey, the biggest blow has been to her business.

“I’m no longer able to conduct my business as a horse trainer or as a horse building facility.”

Dorey’s driveway to her barn washed away in the flooding.

The wait to build a new one could be a long one.

“There’s a possibility with the ministry of environment or fisheries that there may be some challenges in terms of the timing of when we can fix so it doesn’t affect the fish population. I”m a little stressed out but we just have to go with the flow and just kind of hope for the best.”