Monday, December 31, 2018 ~ JUAN de FUCA.
by West Shore Voice News
“The Juan de Fuca Electoral Area (JdFEA) got off pretty easy with this wind storm,” said Juan de Fuca Emergency Program Coordinator Jeri Grant on New Year’s Eve.
“We were at an EOC (Emergency Operations Centre) Level 1 for monitoring for a few days with the many power outages and some road closures due to fallen trees,” she said today.
“We also had some flooding due to high tide and storm surge on that first day December 20. We did have an ESS (Emergency Support Services) activation for a house that was damaged by a tree falling on it from the wind storm,” says Grant.
Also, Willis Point was without power and without road access for several days. The Willis Point Fire Dept opened the Community Hall as a warming centre for those who did not have alternate sources for heat and cooking.
During the worst of the storm aftermath December 21 to 24: “Mother Nature gave us a good reminder to have our ducks in a row. If one or two days without power was difficult for some, imagine life after an earthquake. It would be some time before power is restored,” says Jeri Grant.
“Without power most of us if not all, would not have water. People need to have a plan for that. Storing water, water purification tablets or other purification methods these are thing we need to consider. Alternate heat and cooking sources, I could go on…..”.
People are starting to respond to weather reports differently now. “When you hear there’s a wind warning, make sure you charge all the electronic devices,” says Grant.
“I am so grateful for our volunteers, first responders, road crews and of course, those working for BC Hydro who have been working around the clock to get power restored here on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands and the mainland.”
The Juan de Fuca Emergency Program operates out of the Capital Regional District’s JDF Local Area Services Building in Otter Point, west of Sooke. Contact: 250.642.8105 Email: jdfepc@crd.bc.ca
For information on Emergency Preparedness in the Capital Region, go to: www.prepareyourself.ca