It has been a very busy couple of months since our last report. Over this last summer we experienced a heat dome with higher than ever recorded temperatures in Surrey. In fact, on my own patio in the shade the temperature measured 47C on the hottest day. (I took a picture because I think many would not believe me). If anyone participated in Field Day 2021 this was during the local heat dome here in our area.
This triggered forest fires, evacuation and included the entire town of Lytton being destroyed by fires. Now the fires were far away from Surrey (at least a couple of hundred Km), however they caused main highways to be shut down impacting transportation routes. They also put communications at risk with many of the national communications fibre cables passed through fire areas. Of course, if you were in an area impacted by fire, power outages also led to impacts on the cell towers again putting local communications at risk.
The summer ended and the fires were eventually contained, however the risks of debris and mudslides onto highways were now also at risk when the normal fall rains began.
The fall weather again was some of the most extreme we have ever seen. In the Greater Vancouver (southwest BC) area we are all familiar with the term Pineapple express. This means heavy continuous rains for several days at a time. Well to many of us we had another surprise weather event occur. A small tornado was confirmed to have hit Vancouver by UBC. A little building and tree damage occurred, and it took Environment Canada a day or so to confirm it was actually a tornado not just a waterspout.
This tornado also caused a very local power outage from trees falling across power lines etc.
Next in our fall was a disaster that may be the largest in Canadian History. The pineapple express was now being called “atmospheric rivers” we were hit by three in a row, the first causing billions of dollars of damage due to flooding and landslides. All the highways leading to and from Greater Vancouver, Fraser Valley were impacted. Several people died when the road they were stopped on by a landslide when a second one came down and swept them away. On other highways people were trapped with the roads being washed out both in front of them and behind them. Small communities were overwhelmed with people stuck and no ability to get supplies in or out. Until the weather changed even flights to survey the damage were impossible. Flooding also occurred as rivers overflowed their banks and a dike broke causing evacuations and damage to widespread areas.
This flooding also caused the Trans-Mountain Pipeline to be shut down until inspections could be done to ensure it was not damaged. Fortunately, the pipeline was not damaged, however the areas it passed through had to be restored to allow it to be safely turned back on. This was further complicated by two more storms approaching and causing delays in this being safely restarted. This made for potential shortages of fuel and the government along with a Provincial State of Emergency Declaration implemented a limit of thirty litres of fuel per visit to help make sure there was enough fuel for everyone.
While it has now been a few weeks and transportation routes are slowly being opened and the pipeline is now flowing fuel again we are still experiencing another weather event. This time it is snow and extreme cold. While rare we are better prepared for this weather. Of course, like the rest of the world we are still experiencing the day-to-day impacts of COVID individually and as a community.
So, the lessons for a SEPAR and anyone involved in emergency preparedness.
1. Expect the unexpected. Don’t think it cannot happen here. Events in nearby areas can affect you as well.
2. When travelling be prepared to be stuck, longer than a couple of hours. Do you have a seasonal kit with you as a passenger or driver when you are out of your immediate area?
* This is a good example of when a 72-hour bag can be useful. Don’t forget your prescriptions and over the counter medications you normally take.
3. Sign up for Weather Alerts using an app on your phone. When you get an alert, read it and understand it. Is it a Statement, Alert or Warning? Learn the difference and think through the implications for you and your family. When you get these do you use them to remind yourself you could be needed as a volunteer? Do you monitor the local repeaters during this time etc.
4. Make sure you have a communication plan with your family. While the focus of SEPAR is amateur radio make sure you have a plan with your family that is not licensed. Could you radio another amateur radio operator in your area and have them contact your family? Have you done the very basics of getting an out of area contact set up to phone? Do you have a family text group set up on your phone, etc.?
5. As an amateur radio operator make sure you know the basics of how to use your radio, program a repeater, and how to listen to the reverse (input) of the repeater.
6. Make a point of regular checks on things like generators, fuel supplies, and keeping both your car and radio batteries full.
We in Surrey have been truly fortunate to have been spared much of the direct impacts of the various events of the year. However, we can and should learn from them. SEPAR will be working hard in the new year on continuing to develop a strong Emergency Communications Program as part of the City of Surrey’s Emergency Program. We have started a refresh of the program in 2021 and look forward to continuing to work with the great ideas and volunteers working to make our community a little more resilient and prepared for what may come our way in 2022.
We wish everyone a very Happy New Year.
If you are interested in the SEPAR program and wish to become more involved, please let us know. Our website is www.separ.ca and there is a contact form to contact us.
Our weekly nets are every Tuesday night on the SARC repeater on 147.360 + T110.9 at 07:30 pm PST. All are welcome to check in.
Gord Kirk VA7GK
SEPAR Coordinator