Locals are rallying to help a Likely area couple after their home suffered significant damage when a major debris flow crashed down into their property on the Keithley Creek Road near Cariboo Lake on July 16.
Likely and District Fire and Rescue Society (DFFRS) director Paula Maisonville said the couple —Joanne Campbell and Ron Woolsey — have lived in the community for many years.
“We are just wanting to make sure people are aware of the huge need for the couple,” Maisonville said. “We still don’t know if they will be covered as a disaster or not, though MLAs Coralee Oakes and Donna Barnett are concerned for the couple.”
The couple’s house and possessions are not covered by insurance and they are currently without power, water and basic toilet utilities. Their furniture and the majority of their possessions on the main floor are in ruin and the house has extensive damage.
Barnett has been in contact with the couple and said friends hauled a trailer to the site for them to live in for the time being.
It is believed a failed beaver dam on an upstream lake was the cause of slide which was estimated at 100 metres in length and six to 10 feet deep.
Maisonville said the LDVFRS have set up a community account at the Williams Lake Royal Bank of Canada (RBC), that will accept financial donations which will be dispersed in full to the couple.
Donations can be cash, money orders, bank drafts or certified cheque deposits to the LDVFRS Community Account in Williams Lake directly or submit or mail donations to the LDVFRS Community Account for the couple via PO Box 242, Likely, BC, V0L 1N0.