If you live or own property on Cortes Island, you’re invited to throw in your two cents about a future wildfire protection plan.
A new survey is available online here and is also being mailed to property owners.
SRD board chair Michele Babchuk said local knowledge is invaluable to the disaster planning process.
“The Strathcona Regional District recognizes that disaster management is a shared responsibility for all of society and active engagement with the community is essential to achieving resilience over the long term,” Babchuk added.
“Engaging a community in how it can prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies is more likely to result in decisions and outcomes the community is confident about and will act upon, and this, in turn, will support the work of disaster response agencies.”
Information from the survey responses will help develop the island’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan and Evacuation Plan.
When a plan has been drafted, future community forums will be held to build community resilience and awareness, and, the SRD says, “as a process of continuous improvement.”
“This is an opportunity for Cortes Islanders to express their opinions on important topics,” says SRD protective services coordinator Shaun Koopman.
Koopman thanked the Cortes Island Emergency Planning Committee and Emergency Support Services Team for their input in developing this survey.
“It would have been our preference to start this project off in a more personal manner by engaging with Cortes Islanders face-to-face to exchange dialogue and listen to their input, but due to the physical distancing recommendations of COVID-19 those plans had to change,” Koopman said.
Survey submissions must be received by Sept. 30th.
All responses will be treated confidentially.
You can find more information on this project here.
