Category Archives: Education

Public Safety, Weather Bulletin/Warning

Special air quality statement for British Columbia – Bulkley Valley and The Lakes

[important]

WOCN20 CWVR 280417
Special air quality statement for British Columbia
Updated jointly by Environment Canada and Metro Vancouver and the 
B.C. Ministry of Environment
At 9:17 PM PDT Wednesday 27 March 2013.
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Special air quality statement for:
      Bulkley Valley and The Lakes - southeast including Burns Lake.

Road dust advisory in effect for Houston and Burns Lake.

---------------------------------------------------------------------
==discussion==
The Ministry of Environment in collaboration with the Northern Health
Authority has issued a road dust advisory for Houston and Burns Lake 
because of high concentrations of dust that are expected to persist 
until further notice.

Persons with chronic underlying medical conditions should postpone 
strenuous exercise and consider staying indoors until the advisory is 
lifted.

If you are experiencing symptoms such as continuing eye or throat 
irritation, chest discomfort, shortness of breath, coughing or 
wheezing, follow the advice of your health care provider, 
particularly if you are elderly, have asthma, hay fever, breathing or 
lung conditions or if you react strongly to dust.

End

[/important]

News, Public Safety

Earthquake Research on Vancouver Island, some stuff we didn’t know

Why slow slip can portend a major earthquake.  WE need to be prepared.  The article is interesting and informative. Some think Cascaidia is due or overdue for a very large quake. This would impact Washington State as well as British Columbia. There is a  theory the effect would be felt well inland.  To read this informative article go to

http://www.sciencenews.org/view/feature/id/348786/description/Quakes_in_Slo-Mo

Local Earthquakes, News Articles, Public Safety

Haida Gwaii After Shocks

From the Times Colonist

——————

Earthquakes continue to rumble the Pacific Northwest coast Sunday, after a strong earthquake near Haida Gwaii set off tsunami warnings as far south as Victoria and Hawaii.
A 3.9-magnitude earthquake shook Los Angeles this morning around 8:24 a.m., according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A 5.1-magnitude earthquake hit 97-kilometres south of Sandspit at 9:17 a.m and a second one hit at 11:54 a.m. This time it was magnitude 6.4. There are no tsunami alerts issued.

Read more: http://www.timescolonist.com/Earthquakes+continue+rumble+West+Coast+after+quake+tsunami+warnings+Saturday/7459644/story.html#ixzz2Adjo9dCF

——————

Local Earthquakes, Public Safety, USGS Bulletin

6.3 Mwp – QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION

6.3 Mwp – QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS REGION

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude 6.3 Mwp
Date-Time
  • 28 Oct 2012 18:54:21 UTC
  • 28 Oct 2012 11:54:21 near epicenter
  • 28 Oct 2012 10:54:21 standard time in your timezone
Location 52.633N 132.701W
Depth 8 km
Distances
  • 245 km (152 miles) SW (222 degrees) of Prince Rupert, BC, Canada
  • 286 km (178 miles) S (178 degrees) of Hydaburg, AK
  • 287 km (178 miles) SSW (195 degrees) of Metlakatla, AK
  • 766 km (476 miles) WNW (303 degrees) of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Location Uncertainty Horizontal: 18.4 km; Vertical 6.5 km
Parameters Nph = 281; Dmin = 317.3 km; Rmss = 1.32 seconds; Gp = 84°
M-type = Mwp; Version = 8
Event ID us b000dg06

For updates, maps, and technical information, see:
Event Page
or
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

National Earthquake Information Center
U.S. Geological Survey
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/neic/

News, Public Safety

Winter Weather is Here!

Get your car ready for winter driving conditions by:

  • Make sure your tires are in good shape and are rated for the conditions.  Check your spare tire too.
  • Carry chains where required by law.  Learn how to install the chains properly before you need them.
  • Have all belts, hoses, brakes, and steering components checked by a licensed mechanic.
  • Change your wind-shield wipers.
  • Top up all fluids to the proper levels.  Carry extra wind-shield fluid.
  • Check your safety kit for blankets, water, food, extra medication, first aid supplies, and road markers

Keep care of yourself by:

  • Not driving when sleepy, or under the influence.
  • Not driving in poor conditions when it is not necessary.
  • Planning your trip carefully and sharing your route with friends and family.
  • NOT TEXTING or TALKING on a cell phone.  Pull over safely when using a phone.

Learn more about road safety at the RCMP Road Safety Tips page.

[notice]

If your are travelling in B.C. be sure to follow https://twitter.com/DriveBC & https://twitter.com/wxnetwork_BC for current conditions.

Check out the BC Highway Cameras at http://www.drivebc.ca/ and plan your route accordingly.

DriveBC Map

[/notice]

 

Education, Public Safety

Public Safety – Emergency Management

“For the Government of Canada, Public Safety Canada houses the Government Operations Centre at the hub of the national emergency management system. It’s an advanced centre for monitoring and coordinating the federal response to an emergency. Our network of 11 Regional Offices and 2 Satellite offices across Canada are the Department’s representatives closest to any emergency or event of national interest. They provide regional operational support to the Government Operations Centre.”
 
[important]To learn more about Canada’s Emergency Management Program please visit http://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/prg/em/index-eng.aspx[/important]
Floods, Local Emergency, News, Public Safety

Public Advisory: Increased flows on Nanaimo River

INFORMATION BULLETIN

2012FOR0183-001459
Sept. 28, 2012

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

 

Public Advisory: Increased flows on Nanaimo River

 

NANAIMO – The public should use extra caution when using the Nanaimo River for recreation next week, due to increased water flows.

 

Starting on Monday, Oct. 1, 2012, Harmac Pacific and the City of Nanaimo will be releasing more water from two reservoirs to improve fish access through the rapids into the Nanaimo Lakes spawning areas.

 

 

[warning]

Anyone using the river – especially boaters and swimmers – should be aware of the increased water flows and use extra caution. Increased flows can combine with storms to create strong currents and undertows. The higher water levels are also expected to raise water levels at the Highway 19 bridge later in the week by about 0.3 metres (one foot). The higher water levels may last for two to three days.

 

[/warning]

 

Harmac Pacific will be releasing water from its Fourth Lake reservoir, increasing flows from 2.83 to 7.07 cubic metres per second (100 to 250 cubic feet per second) starting Monday, Oct. 1. The City of Nanaimo will be releasing water from its Jump Lake reservoir, increasing flows from 1.00 to approximately 6.80 cubic metres per second (35 to 240 cubic feet per second) starting Wednesday, Oct. 3.

 

Water release dates vary each year, depending on the number of fish entering the river and river flows resulting from rain. Present river flows are slightly below average for this time of year. Nanaimo Hatchery staff are constantly monitoring fish movements in the river by conducting fish-count swims.

 

These fall pulse releases of water have been taking place for more than 20 years and are the result of an agreement between several agencies, including Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations, the City of Nanaimo and the Snuneymuxw First Nation, as well as Nanaimo Forest Products, which operates Harmac Pacific.

 

 

Contact:  Arnis DambergsWater Technical Officer

Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations

250 751-3165

 

Connect with the Province of B.C. at: www.gov.bc.ca/connect

Earthquakes, Global Emergency, Public Safety

6.4 Mwc – ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.

6.4 Mwc – ANDREANOF ISLANDS, ALEUTIAN IS.

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude 6.4 Mwc
Date-Time
  • 26 Sep 2012 23:39:54 UTC
  • 26 Sep 2012 14:39:54 near epicenter
  • 26 Sep 2012 15:39:54 standard time in your timezone
Location 51.634N 178.293W
Depth 9 km
Distances
  • 117 km (72 miles) WSW (257 degrees) of Adak, AK
  • 287 km (178 miles) W (259 degrees) of Atka, AK
  • 2027 km (1260 miles) WSW (251 degrees) of Anchorage, AK
Location Uncertainty Horizontal: 13.9 km; Vertical 2.6 km
Parameters Nph = 853; Dmin = 114.9 km; Rmss = 1.17 seconds; Gp = 20°
M-type = Mwc; Version = E
Event ID us c000cwni ***This event has been revised.

For updates, maps, and technical information, see:
Event Page
or
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

National Earthquake Information Center
U.S. Geological Survey
http://neic.usgs.gov/

Disclaimer

Earthquakes, Global Emergency, Local Earthquakes, News, Public Safety

6.2 Mwp – GULF OF CALIFORNIA

6.2 Mwp – GULF OF CALIFORNIA

Preliminary Earthquake Report
Magnitude 6.2 Mwp
Date-Time
  • 25 Sep 2012 23:45:26 UTC
  • 25 Sep 2012 17:45:26 near epicenter
  • 25 Sep 2012 15:45:26 standard time in your timezone
Location 24.835N 110.152W
Depth 10 km
Distances
  • 75 km (47 miles) N (11 degrees) of La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
  • 154 km (96 miles) E (98 degrees) of Constitución, Baja California Sur, Mexico
  • 155 km (96 miles) SW (220 degrees) of Ahome, Sinaloa, Mexico
  • 1086 km (675 miles) SE (140 degrees) of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico
Location Uncertainty Horizontal: 13.7 km; Vertical 1.9 km
Parameters Nph = 441; Dmin = 470.7 km; Rmss = 1.12 seconds; Gp = 69°
M-type = Mwp; Version = A
Event ID us c000cw0l

For updates, maps, and technical information, see:
Event Page
or
USGS Earthquake Hazards Program

National Earthquake Information Center
U.S. Geological Survey
http://neic.usgs.gov/