New emergency alert system to connect residents across Squamish and the Squamish Nation in the event of a crisis

A new emergency alert system will allow the District of Squamish and the Squamish Nation to coordinate emergency messaging for all area residents. The two organizations have jointly launched “Squamish Alert” and “Squamish Nation Alert” to enhance community resiliency using the emergency network ePACT. Whether it’s to stay indoors in the event of toxic smoke, or prepare to evacuate in the event of a flood risk, residents across the entire community can now be informed by text, phone or e-mail with important and consistent emergency alerts in the event of a crisis.  

“As an ocean-side mountain community, we are characterized by an incredibly dynamic landscape which comes with a responsibility to be prepared for community emergencies,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “This initiative helps us promote emergency preparedness and implement tools to support the emergency response. The ability to rapidly connect and communicate in an emergency is a vital aspect of improving our collective resilience to adverse events, and we are very pleased to be collaborating with the Squamish Nation to this end.” 

“We know that actively engaging and informing our community members can make the greatest difference in our resilience during an emergency,” Squamish Nation Councillor Chris Lewis adds. “That’s why this is a collaborative, government to government initiative, implementing joint processes and technology across the Squamish Nation and District. This program has the opportunity to make a real difference to the safety and support of all our residents.” 

The Squamish Nation and District of Squamish will use the North Vancouver-based ePACT emergency network to coordinate emergency processes across both organizations, and send email, text and voice alerts to residents who sign up for this program. All residents have the option of identifying whether they may need additional assistance in a community emergency, and can also use ePACT to enhance their own personal preparedness through building a network of emergency contacts within the system.

“We are thrilled to support the Squamish Nation and District of Squamish as they build a robust community resiliency program,” Christine Sommers, CEO of ePACT states. “We built ePACT to help people connect, and we’re so excited to see how these organizations have taken the system into cross-organizational collaboration and resident engagement for the greater support of their communities.” 

This program helps to further the Squamish Nation and District’s efforts to collaborate on emergency processes, planning and training. The Squamish Lillooet Regional District is already using the ePACT network and there is the potential to add other neighbouring municipalities and local organizations in the future. Together, the region is building a comprehensive emergency program that aims to build community resiliency through being prepared. An evacuation exercise is being planned for Squamish in mid-October.

Squamish residents can sign up for Squamish Alert at Squamish.ca/alert.  

Squamish Nation members will be sent instructions directly to sign-up for the Squamish Nation Alert.

September 15, 2016