Canadian Coast Guard Auxiliary members were among more than a dozen, police, politicians and emergency responders at Mission’s Emergency Planning Committee meeting last month.
The January 22 meeting, held at Fire Station No 1 in Mission, was a forum for the participants to discuss everything from critical infrastructure to emergency planning workshops for mission daycares.
EMBC has asked the district to provide additional information on infrastructure inventory, and a list is now being compiled. That list will be brought forward in the coming weeks.
An emergency planning workshop scheduled for last fall had to be cancelled due to lack of interest, however plans are in the works to have a workshop sometime this year .
New radio channels were expected to be launched by the end of January, providing radio coverage from Mission to Boston Bar. Air Ambulance is now included in the radio channel, however Mission Search and Rescue as well as the RCMP has yet to be connected. In addition, the Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment has been approved through the JEPP Grant and will be completed by the end of March.
Preparations are underway for Emergency Preparedness Week 2009, which runs from May 3 to 9. It’s been suggested that this year information be provided to help people deal with day-to-day events such as power outages and inclement weather.
The Emergency Preparedness Coordinator for the district had received approval from JEPP to purchase a generator for the Mission Leisure Centre, which will be used in the event of a power failure. Unfortunately he was unable to purchase the generator because necessary information about the type of generator needed was unavailable during the time allotted to make the purchase. A request for extension was denied. A second request will be made once it’s determined exactly what kind of generator is needed.
Two shelving units for storage and some chairs have been purchased for the Emergency Operations Centre, which will be reconfigured next week so that operations will be set up on the west side of the room next to the radio room.
The Emergency Preparedness Coordinator is searching for an alternative to the Globalstar System for satellite phones. There are currently two satellite phones dedicated to the Emergency Operations Centre which run on the Globalstar System, however that system is not reliable because the satellite does not function at all time.
Other items discussed include the following:
A Managing Volunteers course will be offered to volunteers on March 9. Info will be sent to Search and rescue and Amateur Radio volunteers.
Scouts Canada has implemented a new Emergency Preparedness badge, and Scouts Canada will include amateur radio skills in its program. In addition, Maple Ridge school district has incorporated an amateur radio elective course in the school curriculum.
Finally, BC Ambulance attendants will remain stationed at the Best Western in Mission for the time being, as the new BC Ambulance Station will not be ready for occupancy until next late spring.
