qathet Regional District’s public emergency communications system is receiving $25,000 from the province for training and support for implementation of the community notification system.
qRD manager of emergency services Ryan Thoms said the money is going to help elaborate the system and train emergency operations centre (EOC) staff over the coming year. He said qRD emergency services had already budgeted to put the hardware and system in place. The new funds will be more for public engagement and training and the part around the actual operation of it, according to Thoms.
Current emergency circumstances around the province underscore the need to register for the emergency notification system, he added.
“It’s definitely a good tool for us to be able to communicate to the public via email, phone, text message or whatever option they choose,” said Thoms. “That will be one way that our EOC staff will reach out to people if there is the kind of event where we feel we need to do so. For us, it’s just part of the preparedness measures that people can be doing.
“It’s one that the local governments here are supporting. This is regional, so we hope everyone registers, whether they are residents of the Tla’amin Nation, the City of Powell River or any of the rural areas.”
The system was successfully tested on July 7, with phone calls, text messages and emails going out to people who have registered for the service. Thoms said the EOC is still learning the capabilities of the system, and testing it helps spread the word.
“Hopefully, people will tell their friends and neighbours they have a text message and that helps other people join up,” said Thoms. “We’re getting really good buy-in, but we still need more.
Powell River-Sunshine Coast MLA Nicholas Simons stated in a media release that the $25,000 for the qathet EOC will help communities throughout the region prepare for emergency events.
“It’s important for people throughout the Sunshine Coast and Sea-to-Sky Country to be prepared for emergencies of all kinds,” stated Simons. “We’re supporting investments in communications, training and operations centres to do exactly that and keep us all safer.”
This funding is part of $1.8 million in provincial emergency preparedness funding going to 54 communities across BC. These investments will support local governments and First Nations to purchase equipment and supplies to maintain EOCs and enhance local training exercises.
The funding is provided through the community emergency preparedness fund for programs to enhance resiliency of communities in areas including flood mitigation, evacuation route planning, fire department equipment and training as well as indigenous cultural safety and cultural humility training.
To sign up for the local service, go to qathet.ca and click on the emergency services button on the homepage. When taken to the new webpage, go to the section that says sign up for alerts, and register for the community notification system.
