Some Merritt, B.C. evacuees head back home in first of 3-step plan
CBC
About 1,500 residents of Merritt were allowed to return to their homes Tuesday, a week after the entire city of 7,000 was forced to evacuate after the Coldwater River spilled its banks and caused the complete failure of the municipality's wastewater system.
Mayor Linda Brown announced the first phase of a three-step plan allowing people to return home. Certain properties remain on evacuation alert and under a boil-water advisory.
Returning residents have been asked to limit water usage as much as possible and brace themselves for substantial changes. Sewage treatment has been restored to parts of the city and some gas stations and grocery stores are now open.
"What you are coming home to is a city that's changed," Mayor Linda Brown said in a video statement.
Joe and Renee Green, along with their daughter Montana, were among those heading home Tuesday. The family had been able to live in their RV for the duration of the evacuation.
They noted that many others — like some who were sent to Kamloops or Kelowna — were not so lucky.
"A lot of people were sleeping in their cars because they couldn't get hotel rooms," said Montana Green.
"I feel kind of spoiled that we had this RV," said Joe Green. "I feel kind of guilty all warm and cozy [with some people sleeping in their cars]."
That's not the same situation for Cherylle Douglas.
Douglas has been cooped up in a camper with five adults, 10 dogs and four pet birds for eight days when she spoke to CBC Monday. Douglas said the trailer park she has lived in for 15 years was engulfed by the Coldwater River.
"It's hell, it's real hell," she said, her voice cracking with emotion.
She has been told she can return to her home after repairs are done, but she doesn't know exactly when that will be.
"Right now, what I need is not to be forgotten ... we need to know when we're going home," she said.
Parking lot campers, according to Douglas, are technically within city limits and because people were told to leave town, their requests for help from the Merritt food bank and to the city to bring them some portable toilets have not been granted.
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