The regional district Protective Services Committee spent some time discussing the role of regional directors in emergency operations during committee and regular board meetings on June 6.
A good part of the discussion centred on a hypothetical situation involving a flood emergency in Keremeos and the Lower Similkameen.
The committee discussed such things as jurisdictional and command responsibilities with Regiona District Okanagan Similkameen Emergency Services Supervisor Dale Kronebusch.
Kronebusch recently completed an emergency planning session with Village of Keremeos staff. He noted that decision making in a public emergency would be based on geographic jurisdictions. As an example, a flood emergency within the Keremeos village limits would be handled under the jurisdiction of the village itself, but should the emergency spread beyond the village limits, regional and or provincial resources would be brought to bear. Kronebusch also noted that ultimate decision making during an emergency event would lie with the Incident Commander.
Electoral Area “B” Director George Bush initiated a discussion surrounding the need for preventive maintenanc to prevent and reduce the severity of emergencies.
“I’m aware of the meaning of the term ‘orphan dikes’” he told the committee, “ And also aware that prevention is worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings. We need to do more preventive maintenance work on Similkameen dikes.”
Other directors agreed, Area “D” Director Tom Siddon stressing the importance of inspecting earthen dams.
Electoral Area “H” Director Brad Hope also agreed, noting that Eastgate had an dike issue that had finally been addressed. He also commented on the need to assess potential threats, describing the access corridor and slide potential at Missezula Lake near Princeton as a known “potential trap” that should be a priority that doesn’t take years to deal with.
“We spend huge amounts when an emergency happens, when much less can be spent through preventive maintenance,” he observed.
Area “C” Director Allan Patton cautioned the committee that recent large tax increases for many residents in the region has resulted in many angry taxpayers. Budget increases for unquantifiable maintenance programs might be a tough sell.