UPDATE: State of local emergency lifted for Kelowna

(Update June 19) - Central Okanagan Emergency Operations announced today that Kelowna’s State of Local Emergency (SOLE) has expired.

The SOLE in place for the Regional District of Central Okanagan has also been canceled.

These were the last two SOLEs in place in the Central Okanagan. All evacuation orders and alerts have also been removed.

The news comes as Okanagan Lake’s water levels continue to drop towards full pool, which has led to emergency officials demobilizing most of its flood protection measures.

However, some protection measures will remain in place until the lake reaches the full pool target level of 342.48 m.

The Emergency Operations Centre is also advising residents to consider demobilizing flood protection measures installed on their private property.

Residents with sandbags on their properties have until Thursday, June 28 to return them to authorized locations, for a complete list of locations, click here.

Officials remind residents that it is illegal for sandbags to be emptied into creeks, lakes, wetland, beaches or other watercourses.

Sandbags should be returned with the sand still in the bags.

(Original Story) - A state of local emergency has been expanded city wide for Kelowna as a precautionary measure.

The declaration has been made in response to potentially high stream flows on local creeks and high groundwater levels.

“The state of emergency is a proactive approach that provides crews access to specific private properties in order to protect public infrastructure,” said the Central Okanagan’s Emergency Operations Centre in a release.

“The state of emergency will remain in place for seven days, and is often renewed until the situation lapses.”

Property owners near creeks and streams, especially those who may have experienced flooding in the past, are being asked to be proactive in preparing their properties for potential flooding.

Flood prevention and mitigation efforts are underway throughout the region as officials continue to monitor roads, culverts, weather, creeks and streams.

The BC River Forecast Centre's May 1 snow index recorded the Okanagan's snowpack at 206% of normal for this time of year, the highest observed since 1980.

Click here for NowMedia's full story on today's snowpack report.

For up-to-date information, including evacuation alerts and orders that remain in place, as well as flood-preparedness resources, sign up for e-updates, click here.

Or call the information line at 250-469-8490 or 1-877-569-8490 (toll-free).