Lyonel Doherty

Times-Chronicle

The Town of Oliver is preparing for the worst as it continues working on its emergency evacuation plan.

Council recently received an update from Paul Edmonds of Red Dragon Consulting, who is spearheading the plan funded by the Union of BC Municipalities.

He explained the overall objective is for the community to be prepared for an emergency involving evacuations. The plan covers evacuation routes, which are represented by zones and associated mapping.

Edmonds said it is important not only for local governments to be prepared but for residents to understand their roles in the plan. 

Members of the public don’t just sit back and let their government do all the work, they must take some initiative too, such as preparing a home evacuation kit. 

Emergency Management BC says you should always have a 72-hour grab bag for you and your family. 

“It is helpful to know how to safely exit your home from multiple places so you’re not scrambling for a solution in the middle of an emergency,” Edmonds said.

While having a plan is a great start, people are doing themselves a disservice if they don’t practise that plan, he pointed out.

Edmonds noted that residents also must understand how evacuation alerts and orders work and what their responsibilities are.

In his report, he explains the three stages of evacuation, including alerts, orders and rescindments.

Edmonds said he has mapped everything where a hazard could exist. He has also identified evacuation zones including: Rockcliffe/downtown, Tuc-el-nuit/McKinney, hospital and Okanagan River, airport/industrial, Secrest/River Road, Wilson Mountain, Fairview, Sawmill to Road 11, Fairview Golf Course, and Ryegrass/Black Sage.

Commenting on the plan, Oliver’s Chief Administrative Officer Ed Chow acknowledged that natural disasters may be beyond the town’s control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and impacts of these emergencies. These include knowing the risks, making a plan, and completing a home emergency kit.

Mayor Martin Johansen said he is very glad to see this plan in motion, especially since what has been happening in this part of the country.