qathet Regional District (qRD) directors were updated on regional emergency preparedness for the region.
At the September 6 committee of the whole meeting, Electoral Area A director Jason Lennox said he appreciated a staff report called Community Evacuation Planning 2023 Update, and said he participated in a community evacuation workshop earlier in the year. He asked for an update on the future of evacuation planning in qathet.
Manager of emergency services Ryan Thoms said going into this fall and 2024, the regional district wants to build upon the success of the workshops.
“There was great feedback that we received from all the sessions, including the one you attended up in Lund,” Thoms said to Lennox. “What we really want to do is continue with this.”
Lennox then asked how the regional district can improve on the supplies in the six emergency evacuation supply containers that have been distributed throughout the region. Thoms said some improvements are not big ticket items and will be built into budget planning for the coming year.
According to a report from Thoms, each repurposed sea can-style container contains a base inventory of items such as blankets, cots, water purification, a generator with a limited supply of fuel, first aid trauma kits and human waste management supplies. The containers are located in Lund, Tla’amin Nation, City of Powell River at Powell River Recreation Complex, Texada Island, south of the city at Kelly Creek Community School and Lasqueti Island.
City director George Doubt asked, in light of the fire season in BC and across Canada this year, about evacuation.
“I follow the news and there have been a lot of issues where there is one route of access,” said Doubt. “Everybody has a heightened interest in evacuation probabilities and potential backup routes of access. I wondered what kind of conversation you’re hearing from people talking about how you address those things and having a plan.
“How you evacuate a small part of our regional district is one thing, but how you evacuate the entire community, which is not out of the question, becomes a whole different kettle of fish. The emerging issue we’re having is how to get out in the most dire circumstances.”
Thoms said what Doubt suggested has been a common theme in discussion and it has been a common theme in planning for communities for many years.
“This year, unfortunately, we’re seeing it in action more than ever,” said Thoms. “A common theme is minimal transportation infrastructure, whether that is by road, water, or sometimes, by air. That creates bottlenecks. It’s a challenge for our region – we know that – and there will be a lot of learning coming out that we’re starting to hear about now.
“It’s something we’re very aware of and it’s something that our current regional evacuation plans take into account. We all know the infrastructure we have here in terms of roads and water and air, and the limitations if you’re trying to move a large neighbourhood, with a higher than the usual volume. There are a lot of challenges and we need to keep working on that.”
The committee voted to recommend to the regional board that it receive the report titled Community Evacuation Planning 2023 Update.
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