Local Emergency Preparedness Plan

This is the beginning of regular postings to inform the public and hopefully develop some interest around the existing Lasqueti Emergency Preparedness Plan, how the plan works, and what the perceived real dangers are to us here.  Our local plan is home grown, developed in collaboration with the PRRD and is overdue for an update.  Contact Na or myself  @ 8680 if you are interested in working on updating the Lasqueti Emergency Preparedness Plan. If you are interested in supporting the updating of the Emergency Plan and working to help develop  a higher level of awareness in the community around this subject join us.  We will need a committed team to accomplish these objectives.

This first posting will reference the recent Tsunami Warning that was generated in the wee hrs of Tuesday morning Jan. 23/18.  As the Emergency Coordinator for Lasqueti I receive notification by phone and email when a Tsunami Warning or Alert is generated along with all the other Officials that live in ares that may be affected.  This call-out system is operated and maintained under the authority of Emergency Management British Columbia, AKA as EMBC.   Below is a copy of the alert, please read the notification in its entirety and pay close attention to the information that relates to Area E.  Area E includes our area, the St of Georgia.
 

FROM EMBC

TO Ross Thompson

EMAIL rossthompson505 [at] gmail [dot] com

You are receiving this important message from Emergency Management BC.

BC BULLETIN NUMBER  1.

A large earthquake has occurred in the Pacific Basin near Kodiak Alaska.  The National Tsunami Warning Center has issued a tsunami warning that includes the following zones of coastal British Columbia:

Zone A - the North Coast and Haida Gwaii.

Zone B - the Central Coast and Northwest Vancouver Island Coast, including Kitimat, Bella Coola and Port Hardy.

Zone C - the Outer West Coast of Vancouver Island from Cape Scott to Port Renfrew.

Zone D - the Juan de Fuca Strait from Jordan River to Greater Victoria, including the Saanich Peninsula.

At this time it is believed that a tsunami has been generated. The tsunami may impact low lying coastal areas in these zones.  Local governments in these zones are urged to activate their emergency plans and immediately begin evacuation of identified areas at risk for tsunami impacts.  Updated information will be provided as soon as it is available.

No other zones of coastal British Columbia are at risk.  Repeat, no other zones of coastal British Columbia are at risk.

This message is issued for information purposes only for:

Zone E - the Strait of Georgia including the Gulf Islands, Greater Vancouver and Johnstone Strait.

                                                           END of NOTIFICATION

      No Action was taken in our area because "Zone E" was not identified as an area at risk.

These warnings/alerts are generic, designed to  provide critical info only, not to provide local specifics that would be covered by local area Emergency Plans. The warning above identifies Tsunami Notification Zones that may be affected.  Our Tsunami Zone is  "E".  No Warning was posted for "Zone E"

FYI - Tsunami models indicate Zone E is the least likely to suffer a major Tsunami event, however, it is important to not become complacent regarding Tsunami.  I have been told there is significant historical evidence that demonstrates there have been catastrophic Tsunami waves in this area of the Georgia Straight in the past.

I will be having a "go to" spot established on our local web page for a map of Tsunami Zones and information regarding our Emergency Preparedness Plan for the community to use as an educational reference tool, for the posting of new info as situational awareness changes during an event, and the posting of "Official Notices".

Our Emergency Plan identifies forest fire as the  most significant threat to the community, then earth quake, then tsunami.

The next posting will be an introduction to the existing  Emergency Preparedness Plan.

Ross Thompson, Local Emergency Coordinator