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Whistlerites not prepared for a real emergency

Residents should be self-reliant for up to 72 hours
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Whistler has had its share of emergencies over the years. From the earliest days there have been issues with rockslides on the highway and bridges washing out, while road closures and power outages due to snowstorms are a regular occurrence during the winter months.

Some incidents are more serious than others.

In 2003 access to Whistler was blocked in both directions, with a surging Cheakamus River washing out the highway to the south and a bridge to the north over Rutherford Creek. There was no warning system for motorists at the time and three men in northbound vehicles were killed driving into the creek.

Last summer the highway south was closed for almost five days after a rock slide dumped debris over both lanes of the highway and the train tracks south of Squamish. The northern option was still available for transporting people and goods, but you wouldn't have known it by the panicked rush to buy groceries, gas up cars, and empty bank machines.

But while Whistler has seen its share of disasters over the years, there has always been the potential for far worse.

For example, Whistler has always had the potential for serious wildfires, and homes built into the interface forests on both sides of the valley are in danger of burning - similar to what happened in Kelowna in 2003.

There is also the potential for earthquakes as Whistler sits on a generally quiet but recognized fault line. Flooding generally happens to the north and south of Whistler, but a multi-million dollar project is currently underway to mitigate a land slump on Fitzsimmons Creek that could have triggered a flash flood that might have swamped parts of the village and some neighbourhoods downstream.

Snowstorms and power outages are common, but there is always the possibility for an ice storm or a serious snow event that could knock out power or shut the highway for days. Train derailments are also on the radar, opening the possibility for chemical spills.

To the south of Whistler there is ongoing concern that the barrier that holds back Garibaldi Lake will one day crumble and wash out the highway, railway, and almost everything else in the path of the floodwaters.

Some threats seem a little more far-fetched but they're there. For example, in 2012 there is some concern in the scientific community that unusual solar flare activity could be severe enough to damage the power grid and communications network. There's the threat of terrorism related to the 2010 Games.

Whatever the circumstances, Whistler has a plan in place to handle it that incorporates emergency services, community services, government agencies, volunteers, and equipment that is stored in the event of an emergency. But the Provincial Emergency Plan also recommends that individuals and families plan to survive at least 72 hours without assistance.

In assistant fire chief Sheila Kirkwood's experience, people are not as prepared as they should be.

"I think people are aware that they should have 72-hour kits at home and kits in their cars, but there's a disconnect between knowing and actually taking steps," she said. "Everybody knows they need water, food, batteries and a radio, but they don't think about things like medicine, or dog food if they have a dog. Do you have any cash set aside if the communication lines are down?"

Some people who say they have kits haven't actually put all the gear together in one place, Kirkwood added, reminding people that they need to be able to grab their kit right away if they evacuate their homes.

"People tend to think in terms their camping gear, and that it's only a question of putting it all together. But in an emergency you might not have access to your house, or you may only have a few minutes to get in and out. You don't have time to think about it. It's like a power outage - everybody has a flashlight at home, but do you know where to get it the instant you need it?"

The Whistler Emergency Program hosted a community open house Thursday, May 7. There was little attendance, with competition from a Vancouver Canucks game and a Toonie Ride, but the goal was to get the message out to the public to be prepared. Last week was also Emergency Preparedness Week across Canada.

Erin Marriner, the emergency social services coordinator for Whistler, is in charge of organizing volunteers to respond in an emergency. There are about 50 local volunteers so far, but they are always looking for additional people.

Her group is mostly active during house fires, putting up displaced people in hotels and providing them with food vouchers. In a bigger event she says they are prepared to house members of the community in local schools and community centres.

"Right now our focus is on organizing volunteers that respond to the emergencies, operating radios and being out in the community," she said. "We can use everyone we can get."

Fire Chief Rob Whitton is also focused on prevention. For example, they have made recommendations to thin trees in public parks, and on public lands surrounding neighbourhoods. They don't have the power to force people to cut down trees that can pose a threat to homes in the event of a fire, but they are working to at least make people aware of the problem.

"There are still things that we can do," he said. "If someone comes to the municipality for approval for a renovation then we can recommend a... fire resistant roof. If the house is in the (forest) interface than we can require non-combustible siding and sprinklers as well."

Whistler is also better outfitted to handle emergencies than even a few years ago. A second B.C. Hydro power station has created a redundant "double loop" system to get the power back on after an outage. New systems and policies are in place that allow the RCMP to close the highway in a major storm to prevent accidents and speed up plowing.

Provincially, the response to incidents such as fires has also been refined after the Kelowna blaze, while public buildings like schools are being upgraded to resist earthquakes.

Still, Whitton says the best way for people to handle an emergency is to be prepared.

"We'll get to you when we can, but we have limited resources and we'll need to prioritize in terms of life risk in an emergency," he said. "The best solution is to be prepared for 72 hours. If you don't it could be a long three days for you and your family."

For information on 72-hour kits visit: www.pep.bc.ca/hazard_preparedness/prepare_now/prepare.html.