CommunityEmergencyPlan

Birken

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Table of Contents

Keydefinitions..............................................................................................................................................3

Introduction.................................................................................................................................................4

CommunityOverview...................................................................................................................................5

Demographics..........................................................................................................................................5

LandUse...................................................................................................................................................5

Criticalinfrastructure...............................................................................................................................5

ResponseCapabilities..............................................................................................................................6

Hazard,RiskandEvacuation........................................................................................................................7

EvacuationRoutes...................................................................................................................................7

Flood........................................................................................................................................................8

DebrisFlow/Landslide.............................................................................................................................9

InterfaceFire..........................................................................................................................................11

HazardousMaterials..............................................................................................................................12

SevereStorm(AllSeasons)....................................................................................................................12

CommunityMap–BirkenVFDFireProtectionArea............................................................................14

CommunityActionPlan..............................................................................................................................15

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Key definit ions

Emergency Aneventthatrequirespromptcoordinationofactionstoprotectthehealth,safetyorwelfareofpeople,ortolimitdamagetopropertyortheenvironment.

Hazard Apotentiallydamagingphysicalevent,phenomenonorhumanactivitythatmaycausethelossoflifeorinjury,propertydamage,socialandeconomicdisruptionorenvironmentaldegradation.

Resilience Resilienceisthecapacitytoadapt;bypersevering,recuperatingorchangingtoreachandmaintainanacceptableleveloffunctioning.Disasterresilienceisbuiltthroughempoweringorganizations,communitiesandsocietytoshareresponsibilityforkeepinghazardsfrombecomingdisasters.

Risk Thecombinationofthelikelihoodandtheconsequenceofaspecifiedhazardeventhappening.

Vulnerability Physical,social,economicandenvironmentalfactorsorprocesses,thatincreasethesusceptibilityofacommunitytonegativeimpactsfromhazards.Itisalsoameasureofhowwellpreparedandequippedacommunityistominimizeimpactsandcopewithhazards.

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CommunityEmergencyPlan

Birken2017

Introduction TheSLRDEmergencyManagementProgramprovidesemergencymanagementservicestothe~5,000SLRDresidentsinthefourElectoralAreasandpartnerscloselywithmembermunicipalities.InadditiontotheEmergencyManagementProgram,theSLRDfundsand/oroperatesselectEmergencyServicesintheregionincluding:

• 9-1-1Services• DikinganddrainageinElectoralAreaD• FireandRescueServices• WildfireFuelManagementProgram.

MajoremergenciesanddisastersareontheincreaseinCanadaandworldwide.Disastereffectsmaybedirect(e.g.damagetohouse,lossofincome)orindirect(e.g.increasedinsurancepremiums,reducedairqualityduetosmokefromwildfireselsewhere).

AnumberofcommunitiesintheSLRDaregeographicallyisolatedfromtraditionalfirstresponderorganizationssuchasfire,policeandemergencymedicalservices.Communicationsandotherinfrastructuremaybelimitedorpronetooutages.Theeffectofthisgeographicalseparationisthatcommunitieswilllikelyleadtheirownresponse,makingcommunityknowledge,preparationandskillbuildingavitalaspectofemergencypreparednessandincreasingtheresilienceofthesecommunitiestoadverseevents.

ThepurposeofaCommunityRiskAssessment(CRA)istoguidepracticalstepsinpreparedness,response,recoveryandmitigationthatreduceboththelikelihoodofemergenciesandtheconsequenceswhendisastercannotbeavoided.Riskinformationalsoinformscommunityresidents,businessowners,andinstitutionmanagersofthehazardstoexpectandhowbesttoprepareforthem.Further,ACRAprovidesaplatformfromwhichtoadvancecommunity-levelemergencymanagementandevacuationpolicyandplanning.

ACommunityActionPlan(CAP)providesablueprintforcommunitiestoincreasetheirresiliencethroughincreasingskills,knowledgeandconnectedness–benefitingthecommunitybeforeamajoremergency,duringresponseandthroughtherecoveryprocess.

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Community Overview

BirkenislocatedatGatesLake,nearPembertonandhasapopulationof253residents.Birkeniscomprisedmainlyondetachedsinglefamilyhomes,with15mobiledwellings.TheCommunityissituatedinasemi-forestedareaatthebaseofsteeplyslopesincludingnearbyMtBirkenandalongsideGatesLake,PembertonPortageRoadandtheCNRailCorridor.

Thecommunityisexposedtoarangeofhazards,mostnotablyfloodandlandslideevents,butalsointerfacefirefromsurroundingwoodlandsandhazardousmaterialaccidentsfromtransportthroughtheroadandrailcorridor.Birkenhasnocellphonereceptionandlandlineservicehasbeenrepeatedlycutafterstorms,leavingthecommunitywithno9-1-1service.Severestormsmayalsoresultinextendedutilityoutagesandblockedroads,leavingthecommunityisolated.

Demographics

Mainly fulltime residents with some seasonal occupants.

Land Use

Single family homes and some mobile homes.

Crit ical infrastructure

DrinkingWater Independentsupplyateachproperty–well,tankorstreamfiltration.

Sanitary/WasteWaterTreatment

Septicfieldortank

ElectricalPowerSystems BCHydrosupplyavailabletoallresidencesGasHeatingSystems NoCommunications Landline,internetaccess.Nocellphonereception

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Response Capabil it ies

Structuralfire TrainedVolunteerfiredepartmentwithonevehicle.

Wildlandinterfacefire CrewsdispatchedfromPemberton.Opportunityformorelocaltraining

Medical SomeFireDepartmentmembershavefirstaidtraining(2017),althoughmedicalaidisnotanofficialpartoftheirservicemandateatthistime.NearestBCASbaseisinPemberton

Police NearestRCMPdetachmentinPembertonEvacuation CommunityEvacuationKittobesuppliedto

theFireHall,andtrainingofferedbySLRD.Communication BVFDmemberstrainedinradio

communications.Landlineandinternetaccessavailable,subjecttoanyinfrastructureimpacts.

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Hazard, Risk and Evacuation

BIRKENHAZARDPROFILE

Flood DebrisFlow/Landslide InterfaceFire SevereStorm/

Utilityfailure Earthquake HazardousMaterial

KEY:* HIGHRISK MODERATERISK LOWRISK UNLIKELY *Notethatriskdoesnotequalimpact.Alowriskeventmaystilloccurwithhighimpact.

Theriskassessmentaboveconsidersthefivehighandmoderateriskhazards

Evacuation Routes

NorthorsouthonPembertonPortageRoad,dependentonimpactsandlocationofthreat.Noobviousvehicularalternatives.

Evacuationrouteone:SouthonPembertonPortageRoadtowardsPembertonatthedirectionofFirstResponders,andtherecommendedevacuationroutewillalsobeprintedontheofficialevacuationnoticedeliveredbyFirstRespondersand/orpublishedontheSLRDwebsite.

Evacuationroutetwo:IfevacuationsouthtowardsPembertonisnotpossibleduetoroadconditionsorfirecuttingoffaccess,thenevacuationwouldbenorthtowardsD’Arcy.Dependingonthenatureandlocationofthethreat,thisroutewouldrequireadditionalarrangementsforevacuationduetotherouteterminatingatAndersonLakeforthosewithoutboataccess,orterminatingattheHighlineRoadforthosewithout4WDaccess.Thosewith4WDwouldbeabletotraveltheHighlineRoadtowardsSetonPortageandultimatelyLillooet.

CommunityMusterPoint,ifrequired,willbetheparkinglotoftheBirkenFireHall.TheMusterPointwillbeusedifevacuationisbybusorRCMPescortduetoroadconditions,ortoreceiveadditionalinformationorsupplies(e.g.bottledwater)beforeevacuating.

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Flood

ThefloodriskforBirkenisconcentratedinthelowerlyingareas,withpotentialfloodwatersoriginatingfromGatesLakeandthesteepstreamsabovethesurroundingarea.Intermsofstreamflow,thefloodriskcomesfrombothbankovertoppingandanoutburstfloodscenario,

TypesofEvacuation

EvacuationAlert Thisisthetimetogetreadytoleave,puttingtogether‘grab

andgo’bagswithessentialsupplies,papersandprescriptions,andmakinganyotherarrangementstoleavethepropertywithallhouseholdmembersandpets.Residentsmayself-evacuate(voluntary)duringthistime,particularlyiftheyhavemobilityissuesorhealthconditionsthatmaymakeitdifficulttoevacuatequickly.Thisisalsothetimetomovelivestocktosaferareas.

EvacuationOrder Mandatoryevacuationoccurswhenapopulationisordered

toleaveadefinedareaaccordingtoaformalwrittendocumentthatoutlinestheimpactareaandwhyanevacuationisnecessary.

Shelter-in-Place Essentially,aninstructiontothepublictostayinsidefor

safetyreasons.Itmayalsomean“sealtheroom”,i.e.takestepstostopoutsidesmokeorothercontaminantsfromenteringtheroom.

EvacuationRescind Formalnotificationthatitissafetoreturntotheevacuated

area.TheaffectedareamaystillbeunderanEvacuationAlertunderfurthernotice,ifthehazardstillpresentsathreat.

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whereacollectionofwoodydebrisandrocksbecomelodgedinoneareabyhighstreamflows,formingabarrier.Thewaterpoolingbehindthebarriercanrapidlycausefloodingofpropertiesnearby,butthegreaterhazardisfromthevolumeofwateranddebrisreleasedsuddenlywhenthetemporarydamgivesway.

EVACUATIONPROTOCOL:

Evacuateifdirectedbyfirstresponders(imminentthreat,tacticalevacuation),and/orifanevacuationorderisissuedbytheSLRDduetoconditionsbeingassessedasdangerousenoughtowarrantanevacuationofidentifiedproperties.FirstrespondersandtheSLRDwilltakeaconservativeapproachinassessingfloodriskevacuationtriggerpoints,toensureresidentsafety.

EvacuationAlertTriggerPoints

AnevacuationalertwouldbetriggeredbyEnvironmentCanada,theRiverForecastCentreforecastingconditionsthattriggerafloodwatch,and/oronsiteobservationofthoseconditions.

EvacuationOrderTriggerPoints

Evacuateifheavy/torrentialrainfallisoccurring,andANYofthefollowingareobserved:

• Suddenlackofflowincreeksduringwetweather• Landslidesoccurringinthegeneralarea,orsoundsoflandslidesoccurring• Forecastrainfallisoccurring,andstreamfullconditionsareoccurringorcloseto

occurring.

Debris Flow/Landsl ide

BirkenhasdevelopedbelowsteepslopesbackingontoCrownownedforestedlandthathasanumberoffeedercreeksandstreams.Theslopesabovedevelopmenthaveavariablelandslideriskdependingonvegetation,soilandrockgroundcomposition,slopegradientandmoisturecontent.In2015twodebrisflowsdestroyedpropertyatBirken,alsoimpactingPembertonPortageRoad,BCHydro,telephoneandrailinfrastructure,cuttingoffpower,communicationandaccesstothecommunitiesofBirken,Devine,D’ArcyandN’Quatqua.

EVACUATIONPROTOCOL:

Evacuateifdirectedbyfirstresponders(imminentthreat,tacticalevacuation),and/orifanevacuationorderisissuedbytheSLRDduetoconditionsbeingassessedasdangerousenoughtowarrantanevacuationofidentifiedproperties.FirstrespondersandtheSLRDwilltakeaconservativeapproachinassessinglandslideriskevacuationtriggerpoints,toensureresidentsafety.Evacuationwillapplytoallidentifiedpropertiesatrisk,whichmayresultinapartialforfullevacuationoftheaffectedcommunity.EvacuationrouteisviaPembertonPortageRoad,

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northorsouthdependingwhethertheroadisblockedinonedirectionduetoarelatedlandslideevent.

TriggerpointsforevacuationaretakenfromtheBCForestServiceWetWeatherSafetyGuidelines(rainfallandsnowmelt).

EvacuationAlertTriggerPoints

• Rainfalleventforecastof25–45mmormoreinlessthan24hours• Rainfalleventforecastof25–45mmormoreinlessthan24hours,plussnowmelt

calculations(seetable#1below)• Cumulativerainfallof40mmormoreover>5days,withadditionalcontinuedrain

forecastand/orsnowmeltcalculations(seetable#1below).

SnowMeltSoilMoistureInputSnowmeltisanimportantfactorindeterminingthetotalsoilmoistureinput.Thefollowingtablesprovideguidanceastotheamountofsnowmeltthatmustbeaddedtotheprecipitationforecastorrecordedinaraingaugeinapplicablesituations.Snowmeltmustbeconsideredatorabovetheslopewherethemelteventisoccurring.Table#1:24HourSnowmeltadditionsduringrain-on-snoweventsAveragetemperature

OpenArea ForestedAreaWind* Wind*

Low Moderate High Low Moderate High0.5-2.0˚C 3mm 10mm 25mm 1mm 5mm 11mm2.1–5.0˚C 15mm 35mm 75mm 5mm 10mm 25mm5.1-10.0˚C 25mm 70mm 120mm 10mm 28mm 40mm10.1-15˚C 35mm 95mm 160mm 15mm 40mm 60mm

*LowWind(<10km/hr):Leavesandsmalltwigsinconstantmotionspeed;windextendslightflagModerateWind(10-20km/hr,gusts>30km/hr):Smalltreessway,maps/paperdifficulttoholdstill.HighWind(>20km/hr,gusts>40km/hr):Wholetreesinmotion,cloudsmovingrapidly,rainblowingsideways.

TacticalEvacuationTriggerPoints

Heavyrainfallisoccurring,andANYofthefollowingareobserved:

• Suddenmuddywaterincreeks(especiallyingullies)• Suddenlackofflowincreeksduringwetweather• Cracksappearinginthesoil

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• Small(anything≥1mx1m)sloughsofsoiloccurring• Landslidesoccurringinthegeneralarea,orsoundsoflandslidesoccurring• Blockedculverts• Forecastrainfallisoccurring,andstreamfullconditionsareoccurringorcloseto

occurring.• Thunderstormorheavyrainfalleventnotforecast,generatingtorrentialdownpours

and/orobserveddebrisactivityintheaffectedslideareas.• Cumulativerainfallof45mmover>5daysormore,withadditionalcontinuedrain

forecast,plusadditionalsnowmeltcalculationsfromtable#1(above).

Interface Fire

Birkenislocatedinasemi-forestedenvironmentandsurroundedbyforestedhigherground.Potentialignitionofaninterfacefireincludesalightningorhumancausedforestfire,astructuralfireinthecommunitythatspreadstothewildlandarea,ignitionrelatingtoatrainaccidentorsparking,andavehiclecollisionrelatedfireonPembertonPortageRoadthatspreads.

TheconsequencesofanInterfaceFireeventhavethepotentialtobesevere/catastrophicfortheBirkencommunity.

EVACUATIONPROTOCOL:

AttheEvacuationAlertstage:

• Residentswithmobilityorchronichealthissuesmaychoosetovoluntarilyevacuatetoensuretheirsafetyandcontinuityofcare.Iftheychoosetostayatthistime,theyshouldcontacttheSLRDEmergencyProgramstafftodiscusstheirsituationand/ormakearrangementswithaneighboriftheydonothaveavehicle,andtheirprimaryhealthcareproviderifevacuationismedicallycomplicated(e.g.dialysis,oxygentanks).

• Allotherresidentsshouldmakepreparationstoleave,ensuringthattheyhaveaplanforthesafeevacuationofallpeopleandpets,gatheressentialdocuments,medicinesandnecessitiesoffood,clothingandotheritems.

AttheEvacuationOrderorTacticalEvacuationstage:

• AtthedirectionofBCWildfireService,RCMPorotherauthorizedFirstResponders,residentswillevacuateaccordingtotheevacuationroutedirectionsgiven.

• Allresidentsmustleave,ensuringthatallpeopleandpetsintheirhouseholdsafelyevacuate,andtakingthepreviouslygatheredessentialdocuments,medicines,necessitiesoffood,clothingandotheritems.Iftheseitemshavenotbeengatheredinadvance,theremaybenotimetotakeanythingatthetimeofevacuation.

• EmergencySupportServices(ESS)willbeprovidedtothoseevacuated,including

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emergencyaccommodationifrequired.

Hazardous Materials

Birkenislocatedalongsidethemainarterialroadthroughtheareaandthemainrailcorridor.Avarietyofhazardousmaterialsaretransportedbyroadandrail,andfuelspillsarepossiblefrombothofthesesources,withtheconsequentialriskoffire.In2017,fivecarscontaininglumberderailedatGatesLakewithnopublicsafetyconsequences,butifthecargobeingtransportedwashazardous,andspilled,thenthisincidentcouldhavehadseriousimpactsonthecommunity.Dependingonthesubstancereleasedanditslocation,shelteringinplacemaybetheonlyviableoption.

TheconsequencesofaHazardousMaterialsspillarelikelytobehighlyvariable,dependingonthesubstance,proximity,volume,timeofdayandspeedofnotificationtoresidents.

EVACUATIONPROTOCOL:

AtthedirectionofVancouverCoastalHealth,MinistryofEnvironmentofficialsorFirstResponders,residentswillShelterinPlaceorEvacuatedependingonthehazardoussubstanceinvolved.Intheeventofevacuation,EmergencySupportServices(ESS)willbeprovidedtothoseevacuated,includingemergencyaccommodationifrequired.

Severe Storm (All Seasons)

Thecommunitiesmaybecometemporarilyisolatedbyaseverewintersnowstormorsummerstormwithhighwindsthatdowntreesandpotentiallyknockoutpowerlinesnearby.Winterheatingisaconcern,especiallyforvulnerableresidents.Extendedpoweroutagespresentshealthandsafetyrisksincludingfoodspoilage,shortageandinabilitytostoremedicationsrequiringrefrigeration(e.g.insulin).Blockedroads,includinghighwayaccess,compromisescommunityaccesstoemergencyhealthservices.

EVACUATIONPROTOCOL:

ShelterinplaceuntildownedpowerlinesareconfirmedbyBCHydroasnolongerhazardous.Ifemergencyassistanceisrequired,call9-1-1(ifable).TheBVFDhasradiocommunicationtoPembertonFireRescue.Thisexistinglinkagecanberepurposedduringanemergencyforurgentcommunications.Ifastormrelatedevacuationisrequired,followtheinstructionsoffirstrespondersandofficialinformationfromtheSLRD.Intheeventofevacuation,EmergencySupportServices(ESS)willbeprovidedtothoseevacuated,includingemergencyaccommodationifrequired.

Residentswhoarevulnerableduetohealthconditionsshoulddiscussaplaninadvancewith

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theirprimaryhealthcareprovider.Thismayincludevoluntaryself-evacuationwhenaseverestormeventisforecast,accesstoabackuppowersupply,andadditionalsuppliesofmedicationoranemergencyprescription.

SLRDALERT.Beintheknow,notinthedark.

Freeemergencynotificationservice

directfromtheSLRDtoyou.Text,voicemessageandemailoptions

Signup:http://www.slrd.bc.ca/SLRDAlert

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Community Map – Birken VFD Fire Protection Area

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Community Action Plan

TheSLRDwillworkwithcommunityrepresentativeseverythree(3)yearstoreview,assessandupdatetheCommunityActionPlan.

HistoricalActions

• Birkenhasagroupoftrainedfirstrespondersthroughthevolunteerfiredepartment• Independentwaterandwastetreatmentsystemmaybeaprotectiveelementinthe

eventofdamagedinfrastructureinneighbouringcommunities.• BirkenVFDFireChiefisatrainedFireSmartcommunityassessor

CurrentandFuturePotentialActionsbytheCommunity

• EstablishaNeighbourhoodEmergencyTeam(NET)withmemberswhohavecompletedacriminalrecordcheck(freeforvolunteersandrequiredinordertobeplacedinmanyvolunteerrolesduringresponse).TheSLRDcansupporttheNETthroughtraininginbasicemergencypreparedness,evacuationnotification,recoveryconsiderationsandotherrelevanttopicsthatfacilitateatwo-wayknowledgeexchangeoflocalgovernmentemergencyprocessesandcommunitycapacitybuilding.TheSLRDcanalsoconnectcommunitiestofundingwhenitisavailable(e.g.FireSmart)andmaysponsoratrainingsessionbyanexternalproviderformultiplecommunitiesifbudgetisavailableandthereissufficientdemand.NETteammemberswouldbeutilisedinadisasterresponseasqualifiedvolunteersunderthedirectionoftherelevantagency.ThesizeoftheNET,itsorganizationandtheleveloftrainingisatthediscretionofthecommunityandisindependentoftheSLRD.

NETteammembersmaybeprogressivelytrainedin:

o FirstAidandsimpletriageo EvacuationProcesseso RadioCommunicationo Locatingvictimsandresourceso BCWildfireS-100BasicFireSuppressionandSafety

• WorkwiththeSLRDtodevelopabasicDisasterRecoveryPlan• Fundageneratorforemergencypower• Identifyvulnerableresidentsanddevelopaplanwiththemfortheircontinuedsafetyin

theeventofamajoremergency(EMBCresourcesavailabletoassistplanning)• Identifyanddocumentskilledindividualsinthecommunity(e.g.doctors,nurses,

electricians,engineers).• Practiceevacuationnotificationwiththedeliveryofemergencypreparednesspublic

informationresourcestoeachhouse(theseresourcesavailablethroughtheSLRD)

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• CampaigntogetallresidentssigneduptotheSLRDAlertemergencymassnotificationsystemfordirectcommunicationbyemail,textandlandlinefromSLRDtoresidentsandtheirnominatedemergencycontacts.

LookingformoreinformationtomakeyourcommunityDisasterResilient?

SLRD www.slrd.bc.ca/services/emergency-management

GENERAL http://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency- preparedness-response-recovery

ANIMALS http://www.cdart.org/beprepared.htm

COMMERCIALLIVESTOCK https://www.slrd.bc.ca/inside-slrd/reports/commercial- livestock-relocation-guideFIRESMART www.firesmartcanada.ca