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VOL. 46, NO. 27
BIUndercurrent
The details of Bowen Library’s reopening next week PAGE 7
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In case of evacuation BIM UNVEILS ITS DRAFT EVACUATION PLAN
BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
pal operations with a “small staff working group,” said BIM’s press release. Municipal COVID information can still be found on BIM’s COVID site. While talk of EOC demobilization had been in the works for weeks, it finally happened June 24 when Premier John Horgan announced that the province was entering phase three of the restart plan.
What if a fire ignites south of Grafton Lake and cuts off the arterial road to the west side? Or flames sweep over the south slope of Mt. Collins and cut off traffic from the Legion northwards? How would we leave? These are just some of the scenarios in Bowen Island Municipality’s recently released draft evacuation plan, soon to appear before municipal council for adoption. The plan is an 82-page guide of what to do in case it’s necessary to evacuate part or all of Bowen Island. “The plan is more meant to guide staff and responders rather than individuals,” said BIM’s emergency program coordinator Jennifer McGowan. “Because the different hazards or the nature of the emergency will change the way that [individuals] need to act.” A wildland urban interface fire is the most likely threat to result in evacuation of Bowen said the plan. “It’s hard actually to imagine what else would cause an evacuation of Bowen,” said McGowan. “We don’t have the industry that can sometimes require further evacuation planning.” But where a fire strikes affects the evacuation––eg. a fire on Grafton Rd. could cut off the entire west side. BIM worked with University of Washington researcher Fiete Krutein to investigate scenarios that could result in an evacuations and the locally available vessels that could help. Krutein joined BIM and first responders for a simulation evacuation of parts of the island in February. “That was a big [lesson] also for me to see what kind of guidance is needed when you actually are in such a situation where you have to organize an evacuation and what the friction points usually are,” said Krutein. They learned that parts of the island are more vulnerable than others or have circumstances first responders need to be aware of. Higher density areas will have traffic congestion while lower density areas may have fewer marine evacuation options. “Not that they’re insurmountable but the sooner you recognize that these problems might be coming, the faster you can address them earlier on,” said McGowan.
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UNDERCURRENT PHOTO
A REIGN ENDS: Sandy Bristow retired from her position as a secretary at Bowen Island Community School last week.
Bristow spent 15 years at the job and watched generations of students pass through the school. Legions of adoring fans celebrated Bristow’s retirement with a parade of cars through the BICS bus drop-off June 25 to send Bristow (in the crown) off with plenty of good wishes and freshly picked flowers. June 25 was also the last day of the school year for BICS students. More photos on p. 12.
Municipality’s EOC stands down ‘NO LONGER AN EMERGENCY RESPONSE’: ANDER BRONWYN BEAIRSTO
Editor@bowenislandundercurrent.com
Bowen Island Municipality demobilized its first emergency operations centre last week, three months after the EOC was activated in mid-March. “Dealing with COVID is no longer an emergency response,” said Mayor Gary
Ander in his final weekly video update to the island June 26. “In reality it has become part of our day-to-day municipal operations.” The virtual EOC headed up the municipal response to the pandemic with emergency program coordinator Jennifer McGowan at the helm. Those duties will now fall into regular munici-
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