VERNON, B.C. – The City of Vernon doesn’t know yet just how much it will cost to clean up after Tuesday’s sudden cloud-burst of heavy rain and hail. The storm was too much for the municipality’s storm water sewer system with overflow reported in many areas.
“In the past you’ve tried to build at standards that were affordable and would cover the more common events,” said Vernon Mayor Robert Sawatzky. “The 1 in 100 year events: you tried not to build for the events that hardly ever happen because it’s expensive.”
The City is reviewing how its systems handle sudden and extreme weather, looking at standards for storm sewers.
“The information we have received over the last while is that the more uncommon events will become more common,” says Sawatzky. “In our new developments, we’ll have to take that into account and build appropriate standards as best we can.”
The storm also lifted asphalt in front of the new library on 30th Avenue. The City expects that to be repaired quickly.
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