Community Risk Assessment Hazards, Vulnerabilities and Risks in Town of Sidney 2014 Prepared for: Town of Sidney Emergency Program Prepared by: Smart Risk Control, Inc. Victoria, BC December 31, 2014 2014 Community Risk Assessment Limitation of Liability – This report represents information available at the time of production and may contain errors or omissions. Users of this information are cautioned of the limitations of this study, and assume full responsibility for its application. Prepared by the Town of Sidney Emergency Planning Committee. For more information about this report, contact: Fire Chief / Emergency Planning Coordinator Sidney Fire Department Town of Sidney 9837 Third Street Sidney, BC V8L 3A6 Phone: (250) 655-5414 Fax: (250) 656-6880 Web: www.sidney.ca - ii - 2014 Community Risk Assessment Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Community ................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Physical Setting ................................................................................................... 3 1.3 Climate ................................................................................................................ 4 2.0 Community Profile .............................................................................................. 5 2.1 Demographics ...................................................................................................... 5 Land Use / Neighbourhoods ............................................................................. 6 Special Occupancies ........................................................................................ 7 2.2 Infrastructure ........................................................................................................ 8 Electrical Power Systems ................................................................................. 8 Water Systems ................................................................................................. 9 Sewer and Stormwater Systems ......................................................................10 Road Transportation ........................................................................................11 Marine Transportation ......................................................................................12 Air Transportation ............................................................................................13 Other Infrastructure .........................................................................................14 2.3 Community Services .......................................................................................... 15 Schools in Sidney ............................................................................................15 Health Care Facilities .......................................................................................15 First Responder Facilities ................................................................................16 2.4 Economy ............................................................................................................ 18 Business Centres ............................................................................................18 3.0 Hazards ............................................................................................................. 21 4.0 Priority Concerns ............................................................................................. 49 5.0 References ........................................................................................................ 50 - iii - 2014 Community Risk Assessment (This page is blank to encourage double-sided copying.) - iv - Community Risk Assessment Hazards, Vulnerabilities, and Risks in the Town of Sidney 2014 1.0 Introduction The purpose of a community risk assessment is to guide practical steps in preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation that reduce both the chance of emergencies and the consequences when disaster cannot be avoided. Hazards and vulnerabilities are important community elements to understand in preparing emergency response, business continuity, and recovery plans. Risk information also informs community residents, business owners, and institution managers of the hazards to expect and how best to reduce them. The Town of Sidney Emergency Legal Requirement to Assess Risks Planning Committee intends for this report to carry forward an As a local authority Under the British Columbia Local understanding of the natural and Authority Emergency Management Regulation, the technological hazards that threaten Town of Sidney is required to reflect in plans… the residents, institutions, and The potential emergencies and disasters that businesses of the community. The could affect all or any part of the jurisdictional Emergency Program Coordinator area for which the local authority has will ensure this community risk responsibility, and assessment is updated about every five years. The local authority's assessment of the relative risk of occurrence and the potential impact on people and property of the emergencies or A number of sources and disasters. knowledgeable persons contributed information to this Community Risk Assessment. Municipal staff in the Fire Department, RCMP, Development Services, Engineering Services and Public Works provided essential information on the hazards and vulnerabilities in the community. In addition, Sidney residents and business owners provided information on risks and concerns at the local level. A complete list of references may be found at the conclusion of this report. 1.1 The Community The Town of Sidney sits 26 kilometres north of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula. As shown in Figure 1, the Town is bounded by the District of North Saanich on the north, west and south, and by Haro Strait on the east. Town of Sidney Page 1 2014 Community Risk Assessment History – Sidney began as a milling town more than 100 years ago. The town’s economic base has since evolved from logging, fishing and farming to light manufacturing, retail sales, and tourism. The Town of Sidney was incorporated as North a village on September 30, 1952. It 1 Saanich Town of covers an area of 714 hectares. Sidney Sidney’s role on Vancouver Island strongly reflects its access to transportation. Sidney lies along the major vehicle route connecting the Capital Region with the BC Lower Mainland, through the BC Ferry terminal at Swartz Bay. The Town also serves as the terminus for the Washington State Ferries’ route between Vancouver Island and Anacortes in Washington State. With Central several boat marinas, Sidney is both Saanich home to and a destination for pleasure boat owners and travelers. The Town also lies immediately adjacent to the Victoria International Airport, which supports a number of aviation and Figure 1. Location of Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula industrial businesses. Sidney has an active central business Implications of History: The geographic location district serving the entire Saanich and access to transportation determine Sidney’s Peninsula. Sidney has attracted character and, to some degree, the hazards in the several light industrial operations, community. Severe air, road, or marine transportation including marine-based services for accidents are among the concerns for major emergencies. local and regional boaters. Even if early residents had the information available Hazards from industrial areas today on natural hazards, such as earthquakes, the include the potential for structural Town of Sidney would have likely developed in much fire in high-density occupancies, and the same way. the release of hazardous materials and toxic smoke during fires at industrial facilities. 1 CRD Land Area and Incorporation Dates Town of Sidney Page 2 2014 Community Risk Assessment 1.2 Physical Setting The Town of Sidney, shown in Figure 2, comprises 7.14 square kilometres of generally flat terrain. The eastern seashore provides access to the beaches on Haro Straight, with views of the Southern Gulf Islands, San Juan Islands, and Washington State. Sidney occupies 3.6 km of waterfront, of which 2.4 km has been developed as a linear park. The Town of Sidney, like the rest of the Capital Region, resides in one of the most active seismic zones in North America. Earthquake threats include the Cascadia Subduction Zone off the west coast of Vancouver Island, and shallower earthquakes near Georgia Strait and Puget Sound. Steep slopes are not a problem in Sidney; the Ministry of Environment notes low risks from slope failure for Armstrong Point and Thumb Point at Tsehum Harbour. Although Sidney has no formally designated floodplains, some areas are subject to Figure 2. Geographic Landscape of Sidney localized water intrusion during (source: CRD Maps) heavy rainfall events. The coast is subject to tidal ranges that, when combined with storm conditions, can lead to localized shoreline flooding. The principal tsunami threat in the Sidney area represents the potential effects of subduction earthquake. A tsunami created elsewhere in the Pacific Basin would, at most, affect low- lying coastal areas in Sidney similar to a large winter storm. Implications of Physical Setting: Earthquake ranks among the hazards of greatest concern. Extensive Sensitive natural environments community access to the shoreline increases risks include: from tsunami, storm surges, and maritime