qathet Regional District (qRD) Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) ceased operations at midnight on June 30, 2021. The EOC was activated following the provincial state of emergency announced on March 18, 2020.
“The EOC team were tested by COVID-19 but responded to the pandemic tremendously well,” stated qRD manager of emergency services Ryan Thoms in a media release. “Working collaboratively, our local authorities successfully employed the qathet Regional Emergency Plan despite being faced with challenging circumstances, experiences to build upon when planning for other potential regional emergencies.”
The closure is consistent with the province lifting the state of emergency on June 30, according to the release.
"Throughout the unprecedented past 15 months the regional EOC has operated in support of the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 pandemic response,” the release stated. “Trained staff from Tla’amin Nation, City of Powell River, and qathet Regional District have worked in the regional EOC to diligently provide local pandemic support and to ensure consistent public health and safety information throughout our region.”
