Disaster Preparedness: Taking are of our communities & our planet

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:

taking care of our communities and our planet

Sonia Furstenau, MLA Cowichan Valley

It has been one year since the atmospheric river events devastated BC. Communities were flooded, rail lines and major highways were rendered impassable, and essential goods became difficult or impossible to acquire amidst disruptions to an already strained global supply chain.

Local farms and businesses are still trying to get funding in response to the impacts from last year’s floods, and permanent repairs to the Malahat won’t be complete until next summer. While the response from the provincial government to last year’s disasters continues at a slow pace, very little has been done to proactively prepare for future crises.

Prior to the atmospheric river events last year, the province was on fire. Forest floors, charred from wildfire, were unable to absorb the high volumes of rainfall that would proceed. Drought conditions through September and October this year have increased the risk of flash floods in the event of major rainfall events. Without adequate preparedness, communities will become increasingly vulnerable to volatile extreme weather events.

Amidst the climate crisis, we need all levels of government to take immediate action. We need to implement both long- and short-term measures to combat climate change and its impacts. Reducing emissions, minimizing fossil fuel production, and maintaining existing carbon sinks (especially old growth and primary forests) will be critical to mitigate the impacts of climate change in the future. But, right now, we are living in it. Each year, weather events have become more unpredictable, extreme, and catastrophic. Action is needed now to protect communities. Coordination at all levels of government is necessary to create a robust disaster response system.

But in the absence of government action, it is even more important for community members to work together to address collective action problems in their own neighbourhoods.

Salt Spring Island provides a great example of communities filling in the gaps left by government. In 2005, the island formed the POD system, a neighbourhood emergency network. The Salt Spring Island POD system is modelled after orca family groupings, who communicate and offer each other support while traveling in pods. POD system volunteers provide crucial community support and coordination in the face of disaster.

This fall and winter, I encourage all of us to take proactive steps to ensure that our communities are prepared for severe weather events. Talk to your neighbours about developing a neighbourhood plan, speak to your local elected officials about what plans and resources are in place for community disruptions, and help build local capacity to respond to natural disasters. These are uncertain times, but together we can support each other towards a bright and climate-resilient future.