City Plan Prepares For Disaster

Thursday, February 18, 2010 04:00 AM

Prince George, B.C. - The City of Prince George has put the pieces in place should a large-scale local emergency arise.

The City's Social Services has set out five venues that could be used as reception centres in the event of an emergency or natural disaster: the city centre, the civic centre, CNC, UNBC, and the Northern Sports Centre.

Debbie Scarborough is a consultant hired by the city to identify the sites. She says Prince George definitely has the infrastructure in place...and now a floor plan has been mapped out for using those sites.

A number of local agencies have also met with Scarborough and city staff to outline their areas of expertise in the event of an emergency.

Heather Johnston with St. John's Ambulance says her organization actually has a 300-person hospital that can be erected, complete with X-Ray lab and operating room. Johnston says the group could also mobilize all its volunteers and St. John's has a therapy dog program that could provide first aid to pets.

The Salvation Army, Canadian Red Cross, Volunteer Prince George and PG Search & Rescue were the other agencies to offer input.

Previous Story - Next Story

Email |

Print |

Facebook |

Twitter |

Digg |

Del.icio.us

Posted on Thursday, February 18, 2010 04:00 AM in News by 250 News

Return to Home

Comments

Posted by: new2pg on February 18 2010 6:42 AM

Tax payers money hard at work - hiring a consultant to provide a list of large buildings within the city seems like a really good use of money to me.....

Posted by: vocer on February 18 2010 8:26 AM

If we dont have this info and there is a disaster (however unlikely that may be) it's probably good we know where we can go and what to do. The money spent was not timed well due to the apparent financial restraints we have but not a total waste, as long as the city doesn't inforce user fees for sanctuary in one of our city buildings. If all else fails there's a pothole near my house most of my neibourhood could seek shelter in.

Posted by: He spoke on February 18 2010 9:22 AM

I would think twice as declaring the UNBC northern Sports Center. I would suspect that if it was a earthquake, it will be one of the first things up there that will collapse. The roof is built pretty light. If its a earthquake of any size, I would assume that the ground will likely liquefy at the University site, and the complex will disappear into the old swamp that it was built on.

The Vanderhoof building at the College would be a good place. The main floor of the Bay in the back corner would be a good little bunker.

The Civic Center is questionable, a block building will likely be pretty low lying to the ground after a major earthquake.

City Hall, I think is a bit top heavy as far as structure goes, thus will still be standing but would need to be abandoned.

You also got to remember that if it is a major earthquake, the Kenny Dam will likely let go, and guess where all the water will be coming. It will be the 10000 year flood level. Probably to the top of City Hall. So you can pretty much count on that part of town being wiped out.

What, someone worried about 2012

Posted by: seamutt on February 18 2010 10:20 AM

"The City of Prince George has put the pieces in place should a large-scale local emergency arise". What do you mean, should, already has, potholes.

Posted by: boomer on February 18 2010 2:31 PM

No public schools on that list. How about the north side of the city, where the flood won't happen. Possibly also one of the few areas that the toxic chemical spill might not affect air quality. My fees for this advice are if paid after April 1st 329.54
296.58 if paid before April 1st.

Posted by: borneo60 on February 18 2010 3:21 PM

I did a research paper on PG emergency preparedness. There are certainly lots of work to be done here. Besides the flooding, chem spills we need to look at Kelowna especially wild fires.

I believe there is only one or two buildings in PG can survive a quake of more than 5.5 Richter scale - this would be the new Duchess Park School.

Our fire dept and emergency services including the hospital should be coordinated a little better like Kelowna where the city and their Regional District take turns alternating in emergency preparedness annually.

Not sure why the PG city is paying a consultant where we could have just asked Kelowna for their advice etc.

Posted by: acrider54 on February 18 2010 6:29 PM

The only disaster we have around here are high taxes and costs of services.

Posted by: Harbinger on February 18 2010 10:21 PM

Maybe the citizens could hire a consultant to convince city hall that we pay too many taxes. We could take up a collection. Maybe outsource that consultant from a third world country where they pay no taxes.