The Regional District of East Kootenay is developing a regional evacuation route plan as part of its ongoing emergency preparedness efforts.
We are reminded each summer during forest fire season that an evacuation could be possible. The RDEK is conducting a survey to get residents feedback on a regional evacuation plan and specific evacuation routes.
“To help the consultants with the data-gathering phase of the project, a resident survey is now open,” said RDEK Protective Services Manager Fiona Dercole. “The more widespread participation we have, the better the data will be, which will make for a stronger plan.”
The survey gathers data on how many people and vehicles in your household, would your pets evacuate with you and so on.
All East Kootenay residents in municipalities, rural areas and First Nations are encouraged to participate in the survey, which can be found on https://engage.rdek.bc.ca/evacuationplan. The deadline to take part is October 17
The regional plan will also include consideration for evacuating into - or receiving evacuees from - Alberta and neighbouring BC jurisdictions. During the summer of 2021, the East Kootenay received evacuees from other areas of BC due to widespread accommodation shortages in the West Kootenay, Central Kootenay and Okanagan.
The draft Regional Evacuation Route Plan is expected to be complete early in 2022.
The RDEK was successful in obtaining $171,720 in grant funding from the UBCM Community Emergency Preparedness Fund for development of a regional Evacuation Route Plan. Six municipalities, four First Nations and the RDEK partnered for the grant. In addition, the District of Invermere applied separately for funding and was successful in obtaining an additional $21,920 for the project, for a total of $193,640. The District of Sparwood previously applied for funding and has an existing Evacuation Route Plan that will be incorporated into the Regional Plan.
READ: RDEK urges residents to be prepared for emergencies including flooding, wildfire
READ: RDEK reminds residents to register for East Kootenay Evacuation Notification System
carolyn.grant@kimberleybulletin.com
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