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Okanagan Throwback is an exciting new history-based series.
In the Okanagan Throwback series, expect to learn about prominent locations, businesses, families, early settlers and the odd court case that went down in the valley.
In light of all the flood reporting, we thought we'd roll with the theme and take a look at the recently referenced 1948 flood. After all, that is the year the City of Kelowna and the Regional District of the Central Okanagan are currently basing their flood level projections on.
Let's take a look at what was being reported in the Okanagan local paper, the Kelowna Courier.
*All articles here are referenced with permission from the Kelowna Daily Courier.
On April 26, 1948, the Courier's front page had an article by the Canadian Press under the 'World News Flashes' column about the massive flooding in Manitoba, which led to 11 deaths.
However, there was no word space used to talk about any sort of flooding in the Okanagan. Life continued in the valley rather uneventfully, except for an unusual amount of rain that hit in late April.
By April 29, the Courier reported that 'water-soaked fields' had led to damaged crops in the Okanagan Valley.
"During the past 24 hours, a total of 1.5 inches of rain has fallen in Kelowna and district. The rainfall is "unusually heavy", local meteorologist officials stated."
By May 27, the Kelowna Courier's front page read, 'Flood Waters Cause Alarm.'
On the June 3rd issue, the Kelowna Courier reported the lake levels and continued to do this for the next few weeks with updated changes in levels.
The headline read 'Swollen Streams Subside But Lake Still Major Threat.' The lake levels read 103.42 feet, up from 103.02 the previous Monday.
According to the Kelowna Courier, Colonel H. Angle headed up an emergency committee that was set up the week before the June 3rd issue.
Col. Angle was advising people to not use their vehicles or fill them with gas as they needed to save food and gasoline for essential services regarding the flood.
The Boil Water notice also hit the page, warning residents of the risk of typhoid and encouraging them to get vaccinated at the Kelowna General Hospital.
Meanwhile, crews were working to dam Mission Creek. Mr. Meckling was the City Engineer at that time and during a City Council meeting, Mr. Meckling reported that there was "moderate success on the damming project on Mission Creek behind the Benvoulin United Church," according to the Kelowna Courier's June 10th issue.
Apparently the banks of Mission Creek broke the previous week, "sending a flood of murky water over hundreds of acres of pastureland and gardens all the way from Benvoulin in an almost direct line west to the lake."
According to Mr. Meckling, about 50% of the spilling water had been diverted back into the creek after building a dam out of log, brush and dirt.
The Courier reported men were "working up to their shoulders in the cold water."
While the water level had gone down a little, there was little confidence that the lower level water conditions would remain.
Stay tuned for Part II.
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