Community Risk Assessment Hazards, Vulnerabilities And Risks in Town of Sidney 2007 Prepared for: Town of Sidney Emergency Program Prepared by: Smart Risk Control, Inc. Victoria, BC August 31, 2007 2007 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. 2007 Community Risk Assessment Table of Contents 1.0 Introduction......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 The Community ..................................................................................................... 2 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 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........................................................................................16 First Responder Facilities..................................................................................17 2.4 Economy ............................................................................................................. 18 Business Centres..............................................................................................19 3.0 Hazards ............................................................................................................. 21 1. Atmospheric Hazards.................................................................................................22 2. Disease - Human .......................................................................................................24 3. Earthquake.................................................................................................................26 4. Fire, Major Urban .......................................................................................................28 5. Hazardous Materials ..................................................................................................30 6. Structure Collapse......................................................................................................32 7. Terrorism....................................................................................................................34 8A. Transportation - Road..............................................................................................36 8B. Transportation - Marine ...........................................................................................38 8C. Transportation - Air..................................................................................................40 2007 Community Risk Assessment 9. Tsunami .....................................................................................................................42 10. Utility Failure ............................................................................................................44 11. Water Encroachment ...............................................................................................46 Other Hazards.................................................................................................................48 4.0 Priority Concerns ............................................................................................. 49 5.0 References ........................................................................................................ 50 Community Risk Assessment Hazards, Vulnerabilities, and Risks in the Town of Sidney 1.0 Introduction This report addresses hazards that could affect the residents and businesses of the Town of Sidney and lead to a major emergency or disaster. It is important to emphasize at the earliest opportunity, however, that simply cataloguing hazards is not the ultimate objective of this project. Risk information offered in isolation informs few and inspires little action. The purpose of a community risk assessment is to guide practical steps in preparedness and mitigation that reduce both the chance of emergencies and the consequences when they cannot be avoided. Hazards and vulnerabilities are important community elements to understand in preparing emergency response, business continuity, and recovery plans. Risk information should also inform community residents, business owners, and institution managers of the hazards to expect and how best to prepare for them. The Town of Sidney Emergency Legal Requirement to Assess Risks Planning Committee intends for this report to carry forward from one As a local authority Under the British Columbia Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation, the generation to the next an Town of Sidney is required to reflect… understanding of the risks that threaten the residents, institutions, The potential emergencies and disasters that and businesses of the community. could affect all or any part of the jurisdictional The Emergency Program area for which the local authority has responsibility, and Coordinator will ensure this community risk assessment is The local authority's assessment of the relative updated at least every five years. 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, and Engineering Services 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 back of this report. Town of Sidney Page 1 2007 Community Risk Assessment 1.1 The Community The Town of Sidney is located 26 kilometres north of Victoria on the Saanich Peninsula. As shown in Figure 1, the Town is bounded by the District of North Saanich to the north, west and south, and by Haro Strait to the east. 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 on North September 30, 1952. It covers an area of Saanich Town 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 run between Vancouver Island and Anacortes, in Washington State. Central With several boat marinas, Sidney is Saanich both home and a destination for pleasure boat owners and travelers. The town also lies immediately adjacent to the Victoria International Airport, Figure 1. Location of Sidney on the Saanich Peninsula which supports a number of aviation and industrial businesses. Sidney has an active central business Implications of History: The geographic location and access to transportation determine Sidney’s district that serves the entire Saanich character and, to some degree, the hazards in the Peninsula. Sidney is also home to community. Severe air, road, or marine transportation several light industrial operations, accidents are among the concerns for major including marine-based services for emergencies. local and regional boaters. Even if early residents had the information available today on natural hazards, such as earthquakes, the Hazards include the potential for Town of Sidney would have developed in much the structural fire in high-density same way. occupancies, and the release of hazardous materials and toxic smoke from industrial