Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 mayor says his latest Internet video is not an attempt to steer blame for the current flooding situation with Okanagan Lake away from local authorities.

Colin Basran said while he has heard public comments asking what could have been done to alleviate the high water level in the lake, he wanted to provide information for the public about how the current situation evolved.

害羞草研究所淚 thought it was a good way to get information out,害羞草研究所� said Basran.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 part of my job to inform our residents. I害羞草研究所檝e heard loud and clear: 害羞草研究所楬ow did we get to this point?害羞草研究所櫤π卟菅芯克鶟

In the video Basran, a former television reporter, interviews several experts, including representatives from Environment Canada, the B.C. River Forecast Centre, the Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations and local emergency operations centre officials.

It is made clear by both Cindy Yu of Environment Canada and Dave Campbell of the B.C. River Forecast Centre that the weather that created the current conditions was unexpected.

In repeating information already reported about percipitation levels, Wu said while this past winter was cold, we didn害羞草研究所檛 receive the amount of precipitation (in the form of rain and snow) during December, January and February that would normally have been expected害羞草研究所攋ust 70 per cent of normal. It was the seventh driest December, January and February on record.

But March through April saw a lot of rain and snow at higher elevations害羞草研究所�121.7 millimetres. The average is 86 millimetres.

Campbell said early on, the snowpack in the mountains was only 86 per cent of normal but the snowpack quickly increased to 147 per cent of normal after March 1. Warmer than usual weather then melted the snow quickly sending water cascading down area creeks into the lake, raising the lake害羞草研究所檚 level.

The ministry害羞草研究所檚 Shaun Reimer said deciding how much water to release from the lake through dams at its south end is a 害羞草研究所渂alancing害羞草研究所� act, that has to take into account many factors, including more water downstream and the impact on tourism if the lake害羞草研究所檚 level is low. For several weeks, more water was flowing into the lake per day than could be released.

In the video, Kelowna city manager Ron Mattiussi, who is acting as one of the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre害羞草研究所檚 directors, calls the situation a 害羞草研究所減erfect storm,害羞草研究所� a very late snow pack with the addition of a lot of water warm weather.

害羞草研究所淚 think looking for a scapegoat, looking for someone to blame, is irresponsible,害羞草研究所� he says.

Basran said the latest video is not an attempt to bypass traditional media, but rather an additional source of information for the public.

He said people get their news from a variety of sources nowadays and social media is one of them

And he added it would be different if he refused to talk to the news outlets and only used social media to communicate to the public. But that is not the case.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an effective tool, he said, adding he plans to use social media more in future to present city information directly to the public.

The video is the latest in a number Basran made in recent weeks concerning the flooding. He has also posted short videos urging residents to protect their property, promoting boating safety and reminding viewers Kelowna has a lot of recreation and entertainment options to offer residents and visitors despite the high water levels in the region.