B.C. update on continued support for displaced Albertans
By Contributor
British Columbia continues to marshal emergency management resources and support to assist neighbouring Albertans who have fled the devastating wildfires.
On May 6, 2016, Premier Christy Clark announced a $300,000 donation from the Government of British Columbia to the Canadian Red Cross to support relief efforts in Fort McMurray, Alberta, adding to donations by British Columbians including at BC Liquor Stores. Over $73,000 has already been raised to date from donations at BC Liquor Stores.
British Columbians who wish to contribute to the Canadian Red Cross campaign can do so by continuing to make a donation at a BC Liquor Store or by donating directly to the Canadian Red Cross: Call toll-free 1 800 418-1111 or donate online at: http://ow.ly/YQT73000Q5s
Ministry of Health
Alberta has made a national request for health care personnel, including disaster psychosocial volunteers, public health nurses, environmental health officers and paramedics, to be deployed starting at the end of next week.
Health Emergency Management BC (HEMBC) is co-ordinating B.C.’s health system response to support the disaster in Alberta. So far, in the past 24 hours, 30 disaster psychosocial personnel in B.C. have already stepped up to volunteer when deployments begin. B.C.’s Disaster Psychosocial Program, operated out of the Provincial Health Services Authority, has a roster of about 220 registered volunteers, which include social workers, counsellors and psychologists.
HEMBC has also reached out to each of the health authorities and B.C. Emergency Health Services and is working with them to identify any public health personnel and paramedics who may be available to deploy beginning Friday, May 13, 2016.
B.C.’s Mobile Medical Unit – a state-of-the-art mobile medical facility – remains on standby to respond as necessary. The Mobile Medical Unit is a hospital on wheels that can respond to emergency or disaster needs throughout the province and in other jurisdictions.
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
Eighty-one firefighters, 12 helicopters and 12 pieces of heavy equipment from British Columbia are currently battling the Siphon Lake Fire which has crossed into Alberta in the Peace Valley.
Emergency Management BC
Emergency Management BC (EMBC), the lead agency in British Columbia for co-ordinating and responding to emergencies, has reached out to the Alberta Emergency Management Agency to offer help, including sharing incident management staff that organize and lead in emergency operation centres. EMBC is ready to provide emergency evacuation specialists and a mobile support team of experts in working with emergency social services teams on the ground.
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