Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC) Situation Report – Update #9

04-October-2010—1700 hrs

Provincial Situation

In the wake of the storm event that impacted Northern and Central Coast areas of the province last weekend, response activities and coinciding recovery efforts are focused on repairing access routes and establishing transportation alternatives for those who were displaced, stranded or isolated as a result of flood damage, landslides, debris flows, and road wash outs. While interim solutions have been implemented to provide power, water, and essential supplies to affected communities, repair crews work diligently, taking advantage of a break in the weather, to restore damaged infrastructure and disrupted services. Disaster Financial Assistance has been approved for those impacted by flooding.

Outlook

Environment Canada

Weather Forecast October 4, 2010: A rainfall warning is in effect for the north coast of :

Rainfall amounts near 100 millimetres expected for north coast coastal sections and near 50 millimetres for inland sections by Tuesday evening.

A deepening low pressure system over the Pacific is slowly moving toward the north coast today. An associated frontal system will bring heavy rain to the north coast beginning overnight tonight. Rainfall amounts near 100 millimetres can be expected over coastal sections and near 50 millimetres over inland sections by Tuesday evening. Heavy rain is expected to persist into Wednesday before tapering off as the front moves further inland. As the low approaches the Queen Charlotte Islands, strong southeast winds of 90 to 110 km/h are expected to develop near midnight tonight. These winds will persist into Tuesday morning before diminishing near noon Tuesday.

Summary of Hazard(s)

Storm Event (Landslides, Flooding, Debris Flow):

Total incidents of note for provincial integrated response: 6

· Bella Coola & Hwy 20 corridor

· Kingcome Inlet/Tsawataineuk First Nation

· Village of

· Winter Harbour/Holberg (Mount Waddington RD)

· Town of ,

· Village of Zeballos

EMBC Provincial Overview

Provincial Emergency Coordination Center (PECC) Activated: Level 2

Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centres (PREOC) Activated: 2

Temporary Emergency Assignment Management System (TEAMS) members activated: 3

Advanced planning activities: Bella Coola airport is in close proximity to the Bella Coola River. Assessment is underway to determine the level of risk to the airport from the river. Gabion baskets are being positioned at Bella Coola airport in the event of future flooding impacting the airport.

Human Consequence Management

EMBC has engaged the BC Ferries vessel, MV Nimpkish to provide emergency service to transport stranded travellers and vehicles from Bella Coola to Bella Bella to meet MV Northern Adventure which will make an unscheduled stop on its regularly scheduled run south to this weekend. The MV Northern Adventure will schedule an additional mid-week run to take pressure off of Bella Coola. A barge contracted by MoTI, moved heavy equipment into Bella Coola and is being used to assist in moving recreational over height vehicles on its return trip out of Bella Coola to Vancouver, all but three over heights were accommodated on the barge, the remainder will travel on the MV Nimpkish to meet the MV Northern Adventure midweek. Travellers whose RV’s have been barged were flown to Vancouver. The Canadian Red Cross met traveller’s whose vehicles are being barged to Vancouver. The Red Cross will directly support those with outstanding accommodation and other needs and arrange transportation to pick up vehicles when the barge arrives. EMBC is also covering air travel for Bella Coola residents stranded in Williams Lake and Kamloops to return to Bella Coola. This is unlikely to occur before mid week.

Infrastructure Impacts

Transportation impacts:

· Highway 20: Highway 20 remains closed in both directions 68 km east of Bella Coola to 45 km west of Anahim Lake (32.9 km). Highway 20 is open to all vehicle traffic to Heckman Pass 45 km west of Anahim Lake. A piloted traffic detour is in effect 2 km west of Tatla Lake at the Smokey Lake Forest Service Road. Traffic Westbound to Anahim Lake will be piloted at odd hours and traffic Eastbound to Tatla Lake will be piloted at even hours. Crews are working aggressively around the clock from each end of the road closure and moving inward.

· Head Bay Road (between Tahsis and Gold River) is reduced to single lane alternating traffic until further notice due to a partial wash out (64.7 km).

· Holberg Road (between Port Hardy and Holberg) is closed, estimated open to 4x4 traffic this week, re-opening expected in two weeks.

· Zeballos main Forest Service Road, the only road access into the community, is closed during daytime hours while repairs continue. Passage for 4 wheel drive vehicles has been scheduled between 7PM to 7AM only. Wednesday, Oct 6 the road will be closed for 24 hours in order to replace a bridge.

Power Impacts:

· Bella Coola < 5 customers without power

· Winter Harbour and Holberg (Municipality of Port Hardy) – 71 customers without power.

Water supply impacts:

· Boil water advisory in place for Bella Coola

· Boil water advisory in place for Tahsis

Key Stakeholder Summary

Provincial

Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General (PSSG):

Emergency Management BC (EMBC) has activated the Provincial emergency management structure with 2 PREOCs and the PECC. EMBC has coordinated the provision of supply and people transportation needs for cut-off communities. EMBC has deployed 2 members of the Integrated Recovery Assistance Deployment (IRAD) team to Bella Coola assisting with the transition to recovery operations. The PECC has also deployed 2 Emergency Social Services (ESS) 2 Mobile Support Team (MST) members to assist local ESS teams, 1 member from the Disaster Psycho Social program of the Ministry of Health Services who are members of the Provincial committee Integrated Disaster Council of BC (IDCBC) supported by EMBC and 1 Public Affairs Bureau Information Officer to assist the Emergency Operation Centre’s public information meetings. EMBC has also utilized the Ministry of Forest Wildfire Management Branch for resource requests for flood relief on the coast. EMBC has engaged marine and air transportation providers to coordinate movement of stranded travellers. Three (3) generators have been deployed to Holberg (2) and Winter Harbour (1). These will be used to supply power to sewer and water as well as for pumping fuel. Twenty-six (26) pallets (1.2 km) of gabion baskets have been shipped out of Chilliwack to the Bella Coola airport.

BC Housing:

BC Housing Rapid Damage Assessment Team in Bella Coola has been undertaking damage assessment. Fourteen (14) buildings have been deemed unsafe for occupation (red tagged) with several warnings on others for Bella Coola. One team member remains to ensure that final assessments are complete and transition has occurred to local resources.

Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI):

Ministry of Transportation is currently working with their local road contractors on all provincial roadways impacted by landslide or flooding and restoring access.

Hwy 20 - Closed in both directions 68 km east of Bella Coola to 45 km west of Anahim Lake (32.9 km).

Hwy 20 - A piloted traffic detour is in effect 2 km west of Tatla Lake at the Smokey Lake Forest Service Road. Traffic Westbound to Anahim Lake will be piloted at odd hours and traffic Eastbound to Tatla Lake will be piloted at even hours.

MoTI are continually updating road closure information on their DriveBC website: http://www.drivebc.ca/

Transportation BC Ferries:

BC Ferries vessel, the MV Nimpkish is providing emergency service to transport stranded people and vehicles out of Bella Coola. The MV Northern Adventurer has been contracted by EMBC for an additional mid-week unscheduled run to take pressure off of the impacted community of Bella Coola.

Ministry of Environment (River Forecast Centre):

The BC River Forecast Centre is issuing a High Streamflow Advisory for the BC North Coast. This advisory includes the Kitimat, Kitsumkalum (Dutch Valley), and Bear (Stewart) Rivers, and other smaller tributaries of the Nass and lower Skeena rivers.

Ministry of Agriculture and Lands (MAL):

MAL is working with the Central Coast Regional District to assist with any necessary livestock movements, carcass removal and to address the concerns of impacted farmers and ranchers.

Federal

Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC):

The Duty Officer continues to be in constant contact with the EMBC and supporting the local authorities that are working with First Nation bands within their jurisdictions. INAC has deployed one ITEAMS member to work directly with affected First Nations from the VIR PREOC and deployed two ITEAMS members to work directly with affected First Nations with the Cariboo Regional District. Some initial assessments of the buildings have been completed.

NGO– Non Government Organizations

Canadian Red Cross:

Two disaster management personnel volunteers were deployed to Bella Coola to assist in setting up a Resilience Centre.

Regional and Local Government Overview

PREOC Activated: Prince George - NEA (Level 2):

Local Authority Emergency Operations Centres Activated: 2 (Cariboo Regional District, Central Coast Regional District)

Declarations of State of Local Emergency: 2 (Central Coast Regional District, Cariboo Regional District)

First Nation Communities involved: 1 (Bella Coola)

Band Council Resolution: 0

Evacuation Orders: 0

Evacuation Alerts: 0

Reception Centres: 0

Number of people evacuated: 29 households (exact numbers unknown at this time)

Number of people receiving ESS: 33

PREOC Activated: Vancouver Island - VIR (Level 2):

Local Authority Emergency Operations Centres Activated: 4 (Regional District of Mount Waddington & Tsawataineuk First Nation, Village of Port Alice, Strathcona Regional District, Village of Zeballos)

Declarations of State of Local Emergency: 1 Joint for Mount Waddington Regional District & Tsawataineuk First Nations (Kingcome)

First Nation Communities involved: 7 (Tsawataineuk (Kingcome Inlet), (Fort Rupert/Port Hardy), Gwa’Sala’-Nakwaxda’xw (Port Hardy), Nuchatlaht (Zeballos),Kuyokut (Zeballos) , Kwakiutl (Fort Rupert/Port Hardy), Ehatisaht (Zeballos)

Band Council Resolution: 1 (Tsawataineuk)

Evacuation Orders: 1 (Joint Tsawataineuk Mount Waddington Regional District)

Evacuation Alerts: 0

Reception Centres: 0

Number of people evacuated: 160

Key Internet Links:

Weather: http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/bc

Roads and Highways Information: http://drivebc.ca/

BC Hydro Power Outages: http://www.bchydro.com/outages

Approved By:

Sonia Woolford

Director Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (PECC)

PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM Emergency Management British Columbia PO Box 9201 Stn Prov Gov Victoria, B.C. CANADA V8W 9J1 www.pep.bc.ca Ph 250.952.5556 Fax 250.952.4804 24 Hour Emergency Reporting 1.800.663.3456