City of Richmond and Province Continue to Work with Displaced Residents
22 October 2007
The City of Richmond continues to assist evacuated residents of 8297 Saba Road by activating the next steps in recovery protocol, and relocating the evacuee reception centre.
Activation of Next Recovery Phase
The City of Richmond has taken the next step in recovery protocol by activating the Provincial Integrated Recovery Council (PIRC) through the Provincial Emergency Program (PEP). This next step provides for the involvement of agencies such as the Canadian Red Cross, BC Housing, Salvation Army and additional community organizations to assist in the recovery efforts of individuals who do not have insurance and need accommodations outside the hotel allowance. In emergencies where residents are displaced, the province, through PEP, provides hotel accommodations for 72-hours. In this situation, the province extended the usual allowance to six days.
Relocation of Reception Centre
Today, the reception centre for evacuees will be relocated from the Marriott Hotel to the Executive Inn located at 7311 Westminster Highway in Richmond.
The centre's hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, October 22 until Friday, October 26. The centre will provide residents with information on how to register for accommodation assistance as well as provide referrals to appropriate agencies for other support, including emotional support.
Emergency Services and the Investigation
The Transportation Safety Board is continuing its investigation to determine the cause of the accident.
The Richmond RCMP, Fire-Rescue and Emergency Health Services were the first responders to the scene. Since that time, City of Richmond employees and over 50 volunteers from the community and the province’s emergency volunteer Mobile Support Team, the province’s Emergency Program staff and Vancouver Coastal Health staff have been working around the clock responding to the crash and supporting the evacuated residents.
Personal Preparedness for Emergencies
“Emergencies can happen anytime, without warning,” says Deborah Procter, Manager Emergency Programs. “Preparedness at the personal level is the basic first step. It is relatively easy to accomplish and is critical for personal recovery from an emergency. Included in planning, we encourage all Richmond residents to review their home insurance plans to ensure they have the coverage needed if an emergency displaces them from their home.”
Residents and businesses must be prepared to be self sufficient following a major emergency. Before disaster strikes residents should:
- Develop a personal or family emergency plan
- Organize emergency supplies and prepare a grab-and-go bag
- Know your emergency phone numbers and procedures
- Ensure you have adequate insurance (and know what is covered under your specific policy)
- Make your home safer in case of earthquakes or flooding
- Plan for the special needs of persons with disabilities, infants, seniors, and pets
- Practice being safe
For more information on emergency preparedness, please visit the City’s Emergency Preparedness webpage.
