Containers recently fell off a burning ship in the Pacific Ocean; those containers then sank or washed up on coastlines, with contents lost or destroyed.
The loss of those contents affects the supply chain of goods which flow out of Vancouver to elsewhere in the province, including Powell River.
That loss almost seems minimal now, with widespread flooding and mudslides in BC that have brought many communities to a standstill. Multiple highways and roads are blocked, which will further affect the supply chain.
In response on Wednesday, premier John Horgan announced a provincial state of emergency. New travel restrictions will be put in place to prioritize supply chains and transportation of goods, according to Horgan. He also urged residents not to hoard groceries and other supplies.
Other than a deluge of rain, the qathet region is relatively unscathed after an atmospheric river unloaded on southern regions of the province. Lingering effects will be felt for weeks and months as crews work to reestablish important routes, allowing for essential transportation.
The state of emergency allows the provincial government to implement emergency measures around restricting travel, as well as preventing hoarding and price gouging. The latter two became the norm during the early stages of the COVID-19 shutdown.
Local residents are lucky for the time being. We got wet, as usual, but we’re not stranded on roads like hundreds of travellers were for days, and homes have not been destroyed or washed away.
Be grateful for being spared from another disaster in the province, and leave some toilet paper on the shelf for the next shopper.
