Emergency Support Services (ESS) Centre Open July 22 | 12pm – 8pm
FOR DESIGNATED SHETLAND CREEK WILDFIRE EVACUEES
Merritt and Nicola Valley Emergency Support Services (ESS) has established a reception centre in response to the ongoing Shetland Creek wildfire. If you have been evacuated, you may visit the reception centre to register for ESS supports such as e-transfers and referrals for food and accommodations. The reception centre will be open from 12pm to 8pm on 22 July 2024 in the West Auditorium of the Merritt Civic Centre located at 1950 Mamette Ave, Merritt, BC V1K 1R6.
You can preregister for ESS supports by visiting https://ess.gov.bc.ca; however, you are still required to visit a reception centre in order to complete the registration process.
Although it is not a requirement to receive ESS assistance, configuring your personal banking so that you can receive e-transfers will simplify the ESS registration process.
You can call 1-800-387-4258 for assistance preregistering for ESS supports.
BC Wildfire Advisories
NO CURRENT ADVISORIES FOR THE CITY OF MERRITT
UPDATED JULY 25, 2024
Residents are encouraged to view and monitor the BC Wildfire Service map for the most recent information regarding wildfires in BC. Additionally, the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) monitors nearby wildfires that are located beyond the City of Merritt’s municipal boundaries. The TNRD may issue evacuation alerts and orders for areas under its jurisdiction and it works closely with the City of Merritt in order to coordinate emergency response efforts.
Merritt residents are encouraged to visit the City of Merritt’s FireSmart program and emergency preparedness pages for information on how to protect their homes from wildfire and stay safe in an emergency. Residents should also sign up for Merritt’s Voyent Alert emergency notification system.
VISIT BC WILDFIRE SERVICE
VISIT TNRD FOR NEARBY WILDFIRE ADVISORIES
GET THE BC WILDFIRE APP: GOOGLE PLAY | APPLE
Smoky Skies Bulletin Advisory
NO CURRENT ADVISORIES | JULY 16, 2024
MONITOR AIR QUALITY ADVISORIES | VIEW SMOKE FORECASTS
During a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour-by-hour. Wildfire smoke is a natural part of our environment but it is important to be mindful that exposure to smoke may affect your health. People with pre-existing health conditions, respiratory infections such as COVID-19, older adults, pregnant women and infants, children, and sensitive individuals are more likely to experience health effects from smoke exposure.
Watering Restrictions | Level 3
The city is continuing to experience historically low groundwater levels. Watering restrictions are set at Level 3. The City encourages all residents to practice sound water conservation principles, and to consider voluntarily limiting water usage to greater than the following restrictions:
Level 3 watering restrictions allow lawn watering 2 TIMES a week:
- EVEN # Addresses: Thursday & Sunday
Odd # Addresses: Tuesday & Saturday - Manual Sprinkler: 6am–8 am OR 7pm–9pm
- Automated Irrigation: 12am – 2am
- Gardens: Drip Irrigation or Handwatering with user-controlled auto-shut-off valve: Anytime. (Does not include lawns).
- Washing: with user-controlled auto-shut-off valve: Anytime.
- Pools & Ponds: Top up only.
- Bulk Water Sales: Permitted.
See the Outdoor Watering Policy and more: merritt.ca/watering
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
Heat Warning Ended
Updated July 22, 2024
MONITOR HEAT WARNINGS
During the summer, Environment Canada may issue heat warnings when daytime temperatures rise to 35 degrees Celsius or above, combined with overnight lows of 18 degrees or above for 2 or more consecutive days.
Special weather statements are sent out to encourage people to be mindful of weather forecasts, look for ways to beat the heat, and check on elderly neighbours. Public spaces, like the TNRD Merritt Library (open 10AM – 8PM), are available as a safe place to cool down and rehydrate. Also visit the Rotary Park Spray Park and the Nicola Valley Aquatic Centre.
Regularly monitor alerts on this page for links, resources, and potential extended hours at public spaces.
BC Hydro Air Conditioning Program
BC Hydro has a free portable air conditioning program. This program is intended to provide air conditioning units to low-income households. More information regarding this program may be found at bchydro.com.
RECOMMENDATIONS & INFORMATION FROM INTERIOR HEALTH
During High Heat Conditions
Interior Health reminds people that elevated temperatures increases the risk of heat-related illness increases.
The BC Centre of Disease Control provides a broad range of heat-related guidance on its website, including information on the different types of heat alerts, how to prepare for hot temperatures, symptoms of heat-related illnesses, those most at risk during hot weather and ways to stay cool.
Preparing for and responding to hot weather:
- If you have air conditioning at home, make sure it is in good working order and turn it on.
- If you do not have air conditioning at home:
- Find somewhere you can cool off on hot days. Consider places in your community to spend time indoors such as libraries, community centres, movie theatres or malls. Also, as temperatures may be hotter inside than outside, consider outdoor spaces with lots of shade and running water.
- Shut windows and close curtains and blinds during the heat of the day to block the sun and prevent hotter outdoor air from coming inside. Open doors and windows when it is cooler outside to move that air indoors.
- Ensure that you have a working fan, but do not rely on fans as your primary means of cooling. Fans can be used to draw cooler late-evening, overnight and early-morning air indoors. Keep track of temperatures in your home using a thermostat or thermometer. Sustained indoor temperatures over 31 C can be dangerous for people who are susceptible to heat.
- If your home gets very hot, consider staying with a friend or relative who has air conditioning if possible.
- Identify people who may be at high risk for heat-related illness. If possible, help them prepare for heat and plan to check in on them.
Who is most at risk?
Everyone is susceptible to heat-related illness. It is important to monitor yourself, family members, neighbours and friends during hot weather. Consider developing a check-in system for friends, family, and neighbours who are at high risk of heat-related illness.
Those who are at highest risk include:
- older adults, especially those over 60
- people who live alone
- people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease
- people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression or anxiety
- people with substance use disorders
- people with limited mobility and other disabilities
- people who are marginally housed
- people who work in hot environments
- people who are pregnant
- infants and young children
Your health:
- Drink plenty of water and other liquids to stay hydrated, even if you are not thirsty.
- Spray your body with water, wear a damp shirt, take a cool shower or bath or sit with part of your body in water to cool down.
- Take it easy, especially during the hottest hours of the day.
- Stay in the shade and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more.
- Take immediate action to cool down if you are overheating. Signs of overheating include feeling unwell, headache and dizziness. Overheating can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
- Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, severe headache, muscle cramps, extreme thirst and dark urine. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should seek a cooler environment, drink plenty of water, rest and use water to cool your body.
- Signs of heat stroke include loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting and very dark urine or no urine. Heat stroke is a medical emergency.
In the event of a medical emergency, call 911. However, it is important to use 911 responsibly to avoid overwhelming the system.
When to call 911:
- In cases of heat stroke: loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting or very dark urine or no urine.
- In general: when there is chest pain, difficulty breathing, loss of consciousness, severe burns, choking, convulsions that are not stopping, a drowning, a severe allergic reaction, a head injury, signs of a stroke or a major trauma.
If you have a less urgent health issue:
- You can call HealthLinkBC at 811 and speak with a nurse or go to an urgent care centre or clinic if you can do so safely. That way, our emergency medical dispatch staff and paramedics will be available for people who need their services the most.
- There are also online tools at healthlink.ca, including a “Check Your Symptoms” tool.
Restoring Water Service
UPDATE JULY 11, 2024
In the morning of Tuesday, July 9, 2024, the City of Merritt’s Voght Well (which houses two of the City’s five waterpumps) had a significant failure that has affected the City of Merritt’s water distribution system. A gasket burst, spraying high-pressure water throughout the pumphouse, causing damage to the electrical system, and forcing the City to shut down these two important wells.
REPAIR STATUS
Crews were able to replace the gasket and conduct high-pressure testing to place the pipe back in service on Tuesday, July 9, but were advised to allow the electrical system to dry before testing and repair. After allowing the electrical system to dry for 48 hours, the electrical engineer conducted testing on Thursday, July 11, 2024. The testing work identified that some electrical components failed. While these pumps are now functional, the electrical system for water treatment is not yet working. Crews are working on sourcing materials and establishing timelines for a complete repair. These two wells will not be put back into service until the water treatment system is functional.
WATER SUPPLY STATUS
Thankfully, the City had been able to put the recently repaired Collettville Pump Station into service and increase output levels of all the three remaining waterpumps, to compensate for this supply deficit, and provide all residents with clean, potable water.
The conservation efforts of all residents, and the diligent work of our expert staff and contractors, have enabled the City to fill the reservoirs and maintain full supply levels during this time of disruption. While the City still needs to work on the failed systems, it is expected that the City will be able to maintain normal service in the short term.
RISK OF LOW WATER SUPPLY
Please keep in mind that the City is not back to full operational capacity. However, in the event of an emergency, the City is now able to deal with any urgent water supply issues, such as to extinguish a fire.
Also keep in mind that since the City is currently only running three of its five wells, the City does not currently have a back-up supply of potable water, if any new pump failures occur.
RETURN TO NORMAL SERVICE LEVELS
The City is returning to Level 3 Water Restrictions, limiting lawn watering to two times a week. Residents are always encouraged to practice water conservation efforts. For example, while lawn watering is allowed two times a week, residents may choose to limit their lawn watering to one time a week, or allow their lawns to go dormant.
The Spray Park at Rotary Park will be back in service on Friday, July 12, 2024. We apologize for this inconvenience and we appreciate the support of all citizens.
The City of Merritt would like to thank all residents and users of the municipal water system for their efforts in curtailing the use of water while we work through the current pump system failure.