ESS Responses
Police Stand-Off
On December 27, 2004 the Personal Disaster Assistance (PDA) team was called out at 2:00 am to an apartment building on Westminster Highway. RCMP evacuated 15 people from the building after shots were fired from within. Unable to return to their apartments, five members from the PDA team provided refreshments and personal support to the evacuees.
Arson Fire on Christmas Morning
The PDA Team jumped into action early Christmas morning after a suspicious fire broke out in the townhouse complex on Lynas Lane. Due to the scale of the emergency, the PDA team activated the Thompson Community Centre where they could assess the needs of the 32 people were affected by the fire; 2 families were provided with accommodations.
Greenland Townhouse Fire
On December 8, 2004 Emergency Volunteers arrived at a townhouse complex of which three units were destroyed by a fire. Volunteers assisted the families by providing food, clothing and accommodations.
Friday the 13th (of November 2004)
A devasting fire broke out at the residence for the Independent Living Society. The PDA team was activated to provide hotel accommodations for one family and their pet cat.
September 11, 2001
Following the horrific terrorist attacks in the United States, thirty-four planes were diverted to Vancouver International Airport. The City of Richmond activated the ESS Plan in order to assist airport response workers and stranded travelers.
Richmond emergency staff, along with over 40 trained volunteers and concerned members of the community, worked to find lodging for the travelers and co-ordinate assisting agencies’ efforts to provide everything from cell phones and internet access to food and transportation. Emergency operations were based at the city’s emergency reception centre in Thompson Community Centre.
