State of provincial emergency declared

The Government of B.C. has declared a provincial state of emergency as of Tuesday morning, due to flooding impacts in various regions of the province. To read the order, read the Government of B.C. announcement.

Okanagan College communities impacted:

• The Okanagan Indian Band has issued an evacuation alert for residents north of Westside Road due to potential flooding. The First Nation continues to monitor for impacts from the recent rainfall for potential flooding and debris flow. For updates, visit the OKIB website.
• The City of Merritt remains on evacuation order, including OC students who are taking courses jointly through Nicola Valley Institute of Technology partnership programs. The NVIT campus is closed until further notice. Students can anticipate communication from their faculty.
• Highway access has been significantly impacted as a result of the storm. Please visit DriveBC for updates. If you are
  • Students should contact their instructor(s) as soon as they are safe and able to check in.
  • Employees should contact their supervisor.

Dealing with emergency situations can take an emotional toll on your mental health. Okanagan College encourages anyone impacted by the flooding and recent events to connect with resources:

• Students requiring emotional support are invited to contact Counselling Services, Here2Talk.ca or the KUU-US Crisis Line Society which provides a First Nations and Indigenous specific crisis line available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, toll-free from anywhere in British Columbia. The KUU-US Crisis Line can be reached toll-free at 1-800-588-8717. Alternatively, you can call directly into the Youth Line at 250-723-2040 or the Adult Line at 250-723-4050, or online: https://www.kuu-uscrisisline.com/.
• Employees needing emotional support are invited to contact the EFAP provider, LifeWorks or the KUU-US Crisis Line for culturally relevant support for Indigenous employees.