Vancouver emergency containers are inadequate.
ESS has pre-positioned 20X9X9 foot containers containing basic supplies that support the evacuation of 150 people at various Community Centres and Vancouver Schools. The City does not state how many containers there are.
The containers are outfitted with basic supplies including; 150 cots and blanket, a propane cooker, large pots, soup stock, drink crystals, first aid supplies, cups, bowls, spoon and outdoor admin post tent.
"If there is any money at the end of this five year project, we will consider purchasing water and other personal preparedness supplies." ref:http://www.city.vancouver.bc.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/ess/contain.htm
There is no propane or water in these containers! They are supposed to be delivered by city staff from a City works yard?
Keys to the containers are held by the Community Centre Office, ESS co-ordinator, Vancouver Police and Fire Department.
So lets work out the numbers. There are about 250 units in my highrise building. Lets say the average unit has 3 occupants (750 people), if my building was to be evacuated; the needs of people from one evacuated downtown condo would exceed all the ESS containers alloted to the all Downtown Vancouver Community Centres.
Image of stranded victims of Hurricane Katrina inside of Superdome.
At least the ESS acknowledges this deficit:
"(Q) Provisions for 150 evacuees doesn't sound like enough if we faced a major earthquake.
(A) True, but our plans are to place containers at every community centre. We can either spread the evacuees around, or we can bring in supplies from community centres not being used as shelters. In recent earthquakes in Taiwan and Turkey, about 30% of the population were displaced from their homes, and faced with the prospect of sleeping on a cot in a gymnasium, many found accommodation with family or friends."
The ESS site says that if they are over run with evacuees from a major disaster, that they have access to a B.C. Housing warehouse in Burnaby.
We reccomend you plan today which family, friends or neighbors you can stay with if you have to evacuate your home.