The Challenge
The Village of Telkwa, British Columbia applied for and received funding from the Union of BC Municipalities Community Emergency Preparedness Fund for evacuation route planning. It wanted to support its community and protect the mental and physical health of residents if faced with a major disruptive event that could result in community evacuations. Despite strong social connections and a dedicated group of people trained and prepared to support the community, its small population impacts Telkwa’s ability to mobilize a large evacuation response. Telkwa is exposed to several potential hazards, including wildland-urban interface fires and flooding.
The Solution
Calian worked closely with the community to develop a guiding document that would support effective and appropriate decision-making in Telkwa’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), which would be responsible for making evacuation-related decisions for the village. To limit uncertainty during an evacuation wherever possible, this guide highlights preplanned routing decisions and estimates how long it will take to reasonably perform evacuations. Additionally, a flowchart was designed to provide a simple visual demonstration of essential actions that must be taken by the EOC during an evacuation.
The Results
Together with Telkwa, Calian developed a guide that supports EOC decision-makers during an evacuation. The evaluation of community hazards and challenges resulted in many advance decisions to reduce the number required during an evacuation. This will support the mental and physical safety of residents during an evacuation and is an important component of the village’s overall plan, thus helping them meet both their obligations and desire for a resilient community.
