Residents play major role in Squamish’s new Evacuation Plan

The District of Squamish is inviting Squamish residents to learn more about the community’s new Sea to Sky Multimodal Evacuation plan and understand their role within it. Developed with the Resort Municipality of Whistler (RMOW), the Evacuation Plan outlines the steps the District would take to safely evacuate the community during an emergency event using the existing highway system and other modes of transportation. Highlights from the plan will be on display at Brennan Park Recreation Centre and The 55 Activity Centre in the coming weeks, and at the Squamish Farmers’ Market on Saturday, October 5.

“We should all be prepared to act quickly in the event of an emergency that could result in a mass evacuation of our community, or even a single neighbourhood,” says District of Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott. “We encourage every Squamish resident to take five minutes and familiarize themselves with the plan, particularly their evacuation zones and muster points. This is also a great opportunity to revisit or create your own emergency kit with copies of vital documents and information for all members of your family.”

The Plan divides Squamish into 12 neighbourhood evacuation zones, and 15 transportation muster points that could be used for people without vehicles to access transportation in the event of an evacuation. Residents are encouraged to know their evacuation zone and closest transportation muster points, have an emergency plan and kit, and subscribe to the SquamishAlert for important local notifications such as an evacuation alert or order.

“Please talk to your neighbours and friends about the evacuation plan, and encourage them to get informed,” continues Elliott. “The more our residents prepare, the more resilient we can be as a community in the face of an evacuation scenario. Hazards are a fact of life in the Sea to Sky corridor and we need to be ready as a community to respond.”

To learn more and view the plan visit squamish.ca/evacuate. To sign up for the District’s emergency alert system go to squamish.ca/alert.

Fast Facts:

• Flood and wildfire are hazards with the potential for evacuation in Squamish.
• A phased “full community” evacuation southbound from Squamish would take a minimum of 13 hours.
• Squamish has 15 possible transportation muster points throughout the community, including Totem Hall and seven elementary schools.
• There are 12 evacuation zones in Squamish that would be prioritized during an evacuation based on their proximity to the hazard.
• Residents should have enough food, water and safety items in their emergency kits to be prepared for at least 72 hours, and have grab-and-go bags ready in case they need to leave their home quickly in an emergency.

October 2, 2019