Skip to content

Teamwork aids tsunami dry run

Some confusion during evacuation, but looking forward to working together to improve plans.

Dear editor,

I would like to take this time to thank the District of Port Hardy and the Port Hardy Fire Department in helping to evacuate the community members of Tsulquate Reserve. Thank you to all the people, too numerous to mention here, who helped in the evacuation as well as at the Reception Center.

There was some confusion as to how our evacuation went, but in the end it was meant to evacuate people living in low-lying areas. The confusion was that everyone had to evacuate which was not the case. We also have our own Reception Centre (Wakas hall).

Our community has had an active Emergency Planning committee which has been in operation since the incident with the powerline and downed tree at the bridge in the fall of 2010.

The live drill we had that evening was an eye-opener to all of us. The weaknesses in our plans will be changed as we work toward becoming more prepared for such disasters as this.

T. E. A. M. (Together Everyone Achieves More)

Bob Swain

Emergency Program Coordinator

Gwa’sala-’Nakwaxda’xw Nations