News Release - March 4, 2019

Evacuation Route Planning Grants Awarded

The Regional District of Nanaimo (RDN) and District of Lantzville are pleased to each be successful applicants of the $25,000 Community Emergency Preparedness Fund Grants from the Ministry of Transportation & Infrastructure, Province of BC. This provides funding for the creation of a combined Evacuation Route Plan for Lantzville, Electoral Area E (Nanoose) of the RDN and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations. The collaboration on this project will allow for consistent communications during evacuations and a more comprehensive plan with coordinated multi agency response to evacuation needs.

"We have worked since 2010 to continuously improve emergency preparedness planning for the Nanoose area of our region with the District of Lantzville and Snaw-Naw-As First Nations," said Chair Ian Thorpe. "This grant is appreciated from the Province and a great example of how various levels of government can work together to help residents be better prepared for emergencies."

Efficient and safe evacuation routes are needed for the movement of people, livestock, animals and personal property from an area of imminent or actual threat to an area of safety. Successful and detailed planning is the key to effectively executed evacuations when an event occurs that requires these actions. The project will consider both small evacuation scenarios and how to coordinate a mass evacuation of the communities. In creating pre-planned evacuation routes and making the plan available to the community in advance of an emergency will give residents an opportunity to prepare and understand what the evacuation route plan is and how best to evacuate their neighbourhoods and communities. Evacuation route planning aims to identify roles and responsibilities, populations, assembly points, traffic patterns, transportation, routes, emergency social services (ESS), communication and more.

To help be prepared and to learn more about the RDN's Emergency Program, visit www.rdn.bc.ca/emergency-program. If you have not yet, be sure to sign up to receive all RDN emergency notifications by email, phone or text at rdnemergency.connectrocket.com.

 

Contact:

Catherine Morrison
Manager, Emergency Services
Regional District of Nanaimo
250-390-6557
cmorrison [at] rdn.bc.ca (cmorrison[at]rdn[dot]bc[dot]ca )