In the event of a tsunami, according to officials, knowing where to go can make all the difference.
And Salt Spring’s second annual High Ground Hike held Sunday, April 13 was a learning opportunity for islanders — to meet emergency personnel, learn about disaster preparedness and get an on-the-ground look at the tsunami hazard zone that covers most of low-lying Ganges.
Local Capital Regional District emergency program coordinator John Wakefield said while the zone coveres much of downtown, the good news is that Salt Spring’s topography means islanders should be able to get to a safe area pretty quickly.
“Because we’ve got a lot of vertical rise, you don’t have to go far here to get to higher ground,” said Wakefield. “But if we had a tsunami, you do not want to be standing in this area in town.”
The day’s hike started at Fire Hall No. 1 in Ganges — inside the tsunami hazard zone — and ended at a tsunami-safe location: the island’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at the Salt Spring Island Multi Space (SIMS) building, formerly the middle school. About a dozen islanders found they were able to cover the relatively short distance at a leisurely pace in just a few minutes.
At the EOC, participants were able to see the “command and control” of Salt Spring’s emergency response — from amateur radio operations to satellite communications — coordinating collaboration with partner agencies during a crisis. While the public doesn’t tend to think about tsunamis as much as other potential emergencies like earthquakes, severe weather or wildfire, Wakefield said people should be ready to respond if one is imminent.
“You could get alerts on your phone,” said Wakefield, who recommended islanders sign up for the public notification system through the Alertable app. “Or if you felt a sustained ground shake, it could very well be happening. At the waterfront, if you hear a jet engine sound coming from the water, or see the tide going out quite far quickly, that could be a tsunami.”
Emergency management deputy Colin Medhurst invited the public to an upcoming emergency preparedness fair on Saturday, May 10 at the Ganges Fire Hall from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“We’re going to have a great group,” said Medhurst. “Ground search and rescue will be there, the radio club, our emergency support team, ambulance service, fire-rescue folks. It’ll be an opportunity to get good information to bolster your emergency plan.”
The Capital Regional District’s Tsunami Information Portal and interactive hazard map are online at tsunami.prepareyourself.ca.