Prince George, B.C. –  “Emergency incidents and events  do not respect borders”  those are the  words of Michael Higgins,  the Emergency Services Coordinator  for the Regional District of Fraser Fort George.

In a presentation to Prince George City Council, Higgins  and RDFFG Administrator Jim Martin,  made a pitch to have  Prince George  join in the  Regional Emergency Management Plan.

Higgins says  while there have been a number of incidents over the past ten years,   he foresees similar events happening in the future,   adding there  may not be as many, but their impact  will likely be more severe.

As part of  Regional Emergency Management Plan,  each community would have  its own responsibilities says Higgins,  but would be able to draw on the staff and resources of other Regional District members to carry out the  work that might  need to be done depending on the emergency.

Planning, Preparedness,  response and recovery,  the  key elements of emergency planning.   “We are already  doing  a good job individually”  said Higgins, “But we can do better,  together.”

Councillor Garth Frizzell says it appears  similar to a mutual aid program, which some volunteer fire departments in the Regional District already take part  agreeing to assist  other areas  in the event of  fires “but (this) covering us more  robustly and fully.”

There is still a great deal of work to be done before  such a  regional plan can be  operational.  The workplan sets a timeline for  implementation in the fall of 2018.  The communities of Valemount, McBride and Mackenzie are already on board  with this proposal.

Council has  unanimously supported being part of this  Regional  Emergency Management Plan.