Three new evacuation supply containers have been placed throughout the Powell River region as part of qathet Regional District’s Regional Emergency Preparedness Service. The 20-foot shipping containers, holding basic provisions and first aid supplies, are now located at Tla’amin Salish Centre, Powell River Recreation Complex, and Texada Island Community Hall in Gillies Bay.
“They're part of the bigger ongoing evacuation planning throughout the region,” said qathet manager of emergency services Ryan Thoms. “It’s a bit of a pilot project we started with these three locations.”
The containers and supplies were supported with $75,000 from the Province of BC, made available through the Union of BC Municipalities’ Community Emergency Preparedness Fund.
“Essentially they’re shipping containers that only made one trip across the ocean so they’re not all dinged up or rusted and will withstand an earthquake,” said Thoms. “They’ll have the key supplies we need in order to give some care for people who may need shelter; a lot of the basic things like blankets, cots, mats and water purification.”
The hope going forward is that this project will expand to other community hall-type settings throughout the region, according to Thoms. Although the containers will provide basic support, residents still need to have their own household and neighbourhood emergency plans in place.
“This is not intended to replace that at all, but there will be situations where people are unable to get home or their homes have been damaged and they may not be able to get all the support they need through their neighbourhood,” said Thoms. Looking at other regions throughout BC that have experienced major disasters such as fires and flooding in recent years, roads, bridges and other modes of transportation are often interrupted.
“Very quickly our emergency services can be overwhelmed,” said Thoms. “We want to help people get the support they need.”
