WHEREAS the system of mass emergency and hazard notification in the province of BC is slow and ineffective, as demonstrated by Emergency Management BCs slow notification response times for two recent tsunami warnings; AND WHEREAS fast and wide reaching emergency and hazard notification systems are proven to save lives, while slow and ineffective ones inevitably cost lives; AND WHEREAS some communities have access to effective hazard and emergency mass notification systems, while others do not; AND WHEREAS the technology and financial capacity needed to establish a world-class system of emergency and hazard notification province-wide are available: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that UBCM and FCM urge the provincial and federal governments to establish a world-class emergency and hazard mass notification system, including the following: 1. the establishment of a province-wide, all-hazard radio system by expanding Weatheradio Canada coverage, with Specific Area Message Encoding SAME protocols, to 100 of the populated areas in British Columbia by the end of 2014; 2. the establishment of a federalprovinciallocal government cost-shared funding program with the purpose of ensuring that all of the communities in BC are able to establish mass notification systems that meet local needs; and 3. the distribution of information from the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre WCATSC immediately upon receipt of a tsunami warning, with follow up notifications as necessary.
Ministry of Justice Since 2006, the Province has had the Provincial Emergency Notification System, which upon receipt, begins immediate initiation of tsunami notifications from the National Tsunami Warning Center formerly known as the West Coast and Alaska Tsunami Warning Centre to potentially impacted coastal communities, major stakeholders, utilities owners and the media. Notifications are delivered via phone, email, fax and social media tools, such as Emergency Management BCs EmergencyInfoBC Twitter feed. Emergency Management BCs notification system is a key tool in ensuring local authorities and public safety partners receive timely notification of any tsunami threats. The Province, Environment Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard jointly maintain and operate Weatheradio transmitters that deliver Specific Area Message Encoding tsunami notifications to Weatheradios in potentially impacted areas. Environment Canada continues to expand its Weatheradio network along coastal British Columbia, recently installing transmitters on Haida Gwaii and in Prince Rupert. Federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada have been working toward a National Public Alerting System. It is envisioned that this all-hazards system would provide emergency management organizations throughout Canada with a standard alerting capability to warn the public of imminent or unfolding hazards. In the meantime, Emergency Management BC will continue working with our United States partners on other public subscription services. One alternative that has already been identified is for people to sign up to the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission for email alerts. This service will provide email notification for earthquake events over 6.5 in the Pacific.