As the Ministry of Transportation and officials from the Thompson Nicola Regional District work to restore access to the community of Stump Lake after the main access route was washed out by flooding, locals are wondering just what it takes for a local state of emergency to be declared.
Area resident Cindy Coehlo says with water levels on Stump Lake rising, the community has been asking officials to dig out a berm at one end of the lake to allow some water out. But she says they’ve been told the only way that will happen is if the area is under a state of emergency.
“The south end has homes that are in peril. We spoke with some of the neighbors there today and they’re – nobody has any answers and nobody is speaking to us right now.”
She says some properties are in immediate danger.
“We are all wondering here in our community what do they think constitutes a state of emergency? Because the water levels are rising significantly every day and like I said the south end has homes that are in peril.”