Third Session, Thirty-sixth Parliament

SELECT STANDING COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC ACCOUNTS
FOURTH REPORT

Earthquake Preparedness; Performance Audit
(continued)

Appendices

APPENDIX I

SUMMARY OF THE COMMITTEE'S RECOMMENDATIONS

WHAT ARE THE HAZARDS, RISKS & VULNERABILITIES
ASSOCIATED WITH EARTHQUAKES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Public Awareness – Recommendation #1:

1.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations that the PEP measure the extent of public preparedness and develop a coordinated public awareness communication strategy.

1.2 Your committee recommends that the PEP, in developing a coordinated public awareness communication strategy, take advantage of marketing expertise and work closely with local governments, neighbourhood programs and non-profit agencies.

1.3 Your committee recommends that the provincial government encourage the incorporation of earthquake preparedness issues and emergency first aid certificate programs into school curricula throughout British Columbia.

Seismic Safety Commission – Recommendation #2:

2.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendation regarding establishment of a Seismic Safety Committee in British Columbia, to advise the government with respect to earthquake hazards, mitigation, response and recovery planning, and encourages the provincial government to take steps to establish such a committee.

Earthquake Planning Scenarios and Infrastructure Inventories – Recommendation #3:

3.1 Your committee endorses the recommendations made by the Auditor General with respect to the development of earthquake planning scenarios and inventories of key infrastructure. Your committee notes the preliminary steps taken by the PEP and local governments in this regard, and encourages them to ensure that these recommendations are implemented.

3.2 Your committee recommends that the provincial government work with local governments to ensure that microzonation mapping is completed in high-hazard areas of British Columbia as soon as possible.

STRENGTHENING THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT'S LEADERSHIP ROLE IN EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS

Scope and Long-term Goals of British Columbia’s Earthquake Preparedness Program – Recommendation #4:

4.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations that the provincial government set long-term goals and provide more focus to its earthquake preparedness program, and encourages the provincial government to continue its efforts in this regard.

4.2 Your committee recommends that the Provincial Emergency Program finalize its B.C. Earthquake Strategy, which is currently still in outline form.

The Provincial Emergency Program
– Recommendation #5:

5.1 Your committee endorses the recommendation of the Auditor General regarding repositioning and increasing funding for the Provincial Emergency Program, and encourages the provincial government to consider repositioning the PEP within the Premier’s Office in order to raise its profile and increase its effectiveness.

5.2 Your committee acknowledges the PEP’s efforts to provide an annual report to the Deputy Ministers Emergency Preparedness Committee, and endorses the Auditor General’s recommendation that the PEP be required to report annually on the state of earthquake preparedness in Canada. Your committee recommends that the annual report by the PEP include, but not be limited to, a discussion of the following topics:

• The progress of earthquake planning and preparedness in provincial ministries and Crown corporations;

• Federal-provincial coordination of earthquake planning and preparedness measures;

• The work and progress of Treasury Board (Capital Division) with respect to seismic upgrading of provincial infrastructure.

The Inter-Agency Emergency Preparedness Council – Recommendation #6:

6.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendation that the profile of the Inter-Agency Emergency Preparedness Council be raised, acknowledges development by the IEPC of a "Strategic Activities Plan" to address this recommendation, and encourages the provincial government to continue to take steps to ensure that the Auditor General’s recommendation is implemented.

6.2 Your committee recommends that the IEPC work with non-government emergency response organizations to achieve better coordination of response efforts.

Encouraging Regional Emergency Planning and Coordination – Recommendation #7:

7.1 Your committee endorses the recommendation of the Auditor General regarding strengthening regional emergency planning and coordination, and encourages the PEP to continue its efforts in this regard.

HOW CAN WE MITIGATE THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS OF A MAJOR EARTHQUAKE?

Insurance – Recommendation #8:

8.1 Your committee recommends that the provincial government, in consultation with the general insurance industry and other stakeholders, determine the type of regime that would best ensure affordable earthquake insurance continues to be available to compensate British Columbian policyholders who suffer earthquake-related loss to their property and/or its contents, and encourage the adoption by those policyholders of cost-effective risk mitigation measures.

8.2 Your committee recommends that the provincial government, in consultation with the general insurance industry and other stakeholders, clarify the issues with respect to scope of insurance coverage for damages resulting from earthquakes, and in particular with respect to fire damage following earthquake.

8.3 Your committee recommends that the provincial government require insurers to take appropriate steps to draw to policyholders’ attention, on the face of insurance policies, the scope of coverage available with respect to damages resulting from earthquake.

Improving the Seismic Capability of British Columbia’s Infrastructure – Recommendation #9:

9.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations concerning the application of the seismic elements of the provincial building code, the provincial government’s role in advising municipalities regarding the code, the identification of hazardous buildings and the upgrading of critical response facilities. Your committee encourages the provincial government and local governments to ensure that these recommendations are implemented as soon as possible

9.2 Your committee recognizes the work of Treasury Board (Capital Division) in evaluating, costing and prioritizing seismic upgrading of British Columbia’s infrastructure.

Your committee encourages the provincial government to make the seismic upgrading of provincial infrastructure a priority in British Columbia and, in doing so, to recognize its moral and legal responsibility for the safety of the province’s school children.

9.3 Your committee recommends that seismic upgrading projects in schools include a consideration of non-structural damage mitigation measures, such as seismic restraint systems.

9.4 Your committee recommends that the provincial government ensure that all buildings that are designated as emergency centres meet current seismic standards.

Natural Gas Hazards – Recommendation #10:

10.1 Your committee recommends that the provincial government encourage and promote tie-down programs for gas appliances and mobile homes, and examine the feasibility of mandating tie-downs in the applicable codes.

10.2 Your committee recommends that the provincial government encourage and promote public education with respect to earthquake-related natural gas hazards.

HOW DO WE PLAN FOR RESPONSE TO A MAJOR EATHQUAKE

British Columbia Earthquake Response Plan – Recommendation #11:

11.1 Your committee endorses the recommendations of the Auditor General regarding updating of the British Columbia Earthquake Plan and related regulations, development of a new communication strategy with respect to the plan, and the identification of potential sites for Provincial Field Response Centre and an alternative location for the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre. Your committee encourages the PEP to implement these recommendations.

Earthquake Response in Supporting Ministries and Schools – Recommendation #12:

12.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations concerning earthquake response planning in ministries with key support functions and the development of systems standards for resource management, and encourages the provincial government to ensure that steps are taken to implement these recommendations.

12.2 Your committee recommends that the provincial government encourage earthquake response planning and testing in all British Columbia schools, and to consider providing funding assistance for emergency supplies in all schools.

12.3 Your committee notes the steps taken by the Ministry of Health to review and strengthen the ability of the health system to respond to a major earthquake, and encourages the ministry to continue its efforts in this regard, and in particular to consider the adequacy of British Columbia’s ambulance services capacity.

12.4 Your committee recommends that the provincial government encourage local government initiatives, as well as cooperation between industry and governments, with respect to hazardous materials planning.

12.5 Your committee recommends that provincial and local governments take steps to ensure adequate consideration is given to women’s services in earthquake response planning.

Neighbourhood Programs – Recommendation #13:

13.1 Your committee recommends that the provincial government recognize the important role neighbourhood programs have to play in earthquake preparedness planning and response, and take steps to promote the development of more such programs in British Columbia.

Emergency Communications and Public Information – Recommendation #14:

14.1 Your committee endorses the recommendations of the Auditor General to the PEP and local governments with respect to updating communications equipment, emergency public information plans and communications plans, and acknowledges the PEP’s efforts to upgrade equipment and update its communications and public information plans.

14.2 Your committee encourages the PEP to complete its upgrading and updating efforts as soon as possible, and to ensure that these plans are updated on a regular basis. Your committee also encourages local governments to implement the Auditor General’s recommendations with respect to emergency communications and public information plans.

Interjurisdictional Coordination of Preparedness and Response Planning – Recommendation #15:

15.1 Your committee endorses the recommendations of the Auditor General to the PEP and local governments concerning cooperative efforts between the PEP, local governments, other provincial governments, the federal government and the Canadian Forces with respect to earthquake preparedness and response support plans, and encourages the PEP and local governments to implement these recommendations.

15.2 Your committee acknowledges the Provincial Emergency Program’s efforts in coordinating the "Thunderbird 4 – Cascadia Response" exercise in March 1999, and recommends that the provincial government encourage more joint earthquake response exercises by the Provincial Emergency Program, Emergency Preparedness Canada and the Canadian Forces, including regular exercises around the National Earthquake Support Plan and its relationship to British Columbia’s plans.

15.3 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations to local governments and the PEP with respect to local government planning and testing, and encourages implementation of these recommendations.

15.4 Your committee recommends that future testing of earthquake response plans involve participation by urban search and rescue teams.

Emergency Planning and Response Training – Recommendation #16:

16.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations to the PEP with respect to training for emergency planning and response positions at the provincial and local government levels, acknowledges the efforts undertaken by the Provincial Emergency Program to develop and offer an emergency management training through the Justice Institute, and encourages the PEP to ensure that the Auditor General’s recommendations with respect to training be implemented.

16.2 Your committee recommends that the provincial government review relevant legislation and policies to ensure that there are no legislative, regulatory or other impediments to the provision of adequate emergency training and certification to enable emergency medical assistants to provide effective assistance in the event of a major earthquake.

PLANNING FOR RECOVERY FROM AN EARTHQUAKE:

Post-Earthquake Damage Assessment, Debris Removal and Reconstruction – Recommendation #17:

17.1 Your committee endorses the recommendations of the Auditor General to the PEP concerning development of a damage assessment plan, and communication thereof, and encourages the PEP to implement this recommendation.

17.2 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendation that the PEP pursue and recommendations contained in the Joint Emergency Liaison Committee’s interim report with respect to post-earthquake structural assessment, and encourages the PEP to take steps to implement this recommendation.

17.3 Your committee endorses the recommendations made by the Auditor General to the PEP with respect to advising local governments on post-earthquake building inspection, debris removal and reconstruction, and encourages the PEP to implement these recommendations.

17.4 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations to local governments with respect to planning for post-earthquake damage assessment, infrastructure inspection, debris removal and reconstruction, and encourages local governments to implement these recommendations.

Business Continuation Planning – Recommendation #18:

18.1 Your committee acknowledges the work done by the Risk Management Branch of the Ministry of Finance and Corporate Relations with respect to business continuation planning and coordination with the PEP, endorses the Auditor General’s recommendations to the provincial government in this regard, and encourages the provincial government to ensure that the Auditor General’s recommendations are fully implemented.

18.2 Your committee endorses the recommendations made by the Auditor General to the provincial government, the PEP and local governments concerning business continuation planning, encourages implementation of those recommendations, and recommends that the PEP work cooperatively with local governments to develop guidelines for local government business continuation plans.

Funding Earthquake Recovery Costs – Recommendation #19:

19.1 Your committee endorses the Auditor General’s recommendation to the provincial government with respect to preparing for and mitigating its financial liabilities following a major earthquake, and encourages the provincial government to ensure that this recommendation is implemented.

19.2 Your committee recommends that the provincial government educate British Columbians about the fact that public funds will generally not be available to compensate for losses to private property resulting from earthquake, and that public funds will only be available to restore and replace public infrastructure.

Developing Implementation Strategies and Reporting Back on Progress – Recommendation #19:

20.3 Your committee recommends that the provincial government, in particular the Provincial Emergency Program, move with dispatch in developing strategies to address the recommendations contained in this report.

20.4 Your committee recommends that representatives of the Provincial Emergency Program re-attend before the committee no later than December 31, 1999, in order to provide information regarding progress made in implementing the recommendations contained in this report.

APPENDIX II:

AUDITOR GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT AND THE PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT:

• The provincial government should establish a Seismic Safety Commission (Strategic Recommendation #1)

• The provincial government should develop long-term goals for earthquake preparedness (Strategic Recommendation #2)

• The provincial government should provide more focus to its earthquake preparedness program (Strategic Recommendation #3)

• The provincial government should raise the profile of the Inter-Agency Emergency Preparedness Council (Strategic Recommendation #8)

• The provincial government should strengthen regional emergency planning and coordination (Strategic Recommendation #9)

OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE PROVINCIAL GOVERNMENT:

• The provincial government should ensure that the seismic elements of the Provincial Building Code are applied to all provincial buildings (Operational Recommendation #10)

• The provincial government should maintain an advisory capability to help municipalities work with the Provincial Building Code (Operational Recommendation #11)

• The provincial government should determine the role that insurance should play in mitigation, and define the most appropriate regime through which it can be offered to the public (Operational Recommendation #12)

• The provincial government should continue discussions with the insurance industry and, where appropriate, the federal government with a view to reaching agreement on how best to create an environment for an affordable insurance regime within the industry’s capacity (Operational Recommendation #13)

• All ministries assigned key support functions should complete, without delay, plans detailing how they will carry out their assigned responsibilities after a major earthquake (Operational Recommendation #18)

• The Ministry of Environment, Lands and Parks should develop a response plan, test it and train staff accordingly, in order to be able to meet its responsibilities under the provincial earthquake response plan (Operational Recommendation #19)

• The provincial government should implement the recommendations made by the Risk Management Branch regarding business continuation planning. These recommendations include: assigning responsibility for maintaining a business continuation planning program and establishing accountability for success; monitoring the status of such planning; and auditing ministry planning programs. Also recommended was that the Risk Management Branch act in a training and coordinating role and provide status reports to the Deputy Ministers’ Council (Operational Recommendation #38)

• The provincial government should give serious consideration to how best to coordinate the roles of the Risk Management Branch and PEP, as this area of emergency preparedness is closely related to the other aspects of preparedness for which PEP is responsible (Operational Recommendation #39)

• The provincial government should discuss with the federal government options for dealing with the financial ramifications of a catastrophic disaster. In addition, it should develop its own options paper on ways of dealing with and mitigating its own financial liabilities in the event of a major earthquake (Operational Recommendation #40)

• Ministries and Crown corporations should give immediate attention to completing business continuation plans (Operational Recommendation #41)

STRATEGIC RECOMMENDATIONS AFFECTING THE PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM:

• The Provincial Emergency Program, regional and local governments should extend the development of earthquake planning scenarios (Strategic Recommendation #4)

• The provincial government should reposition the Provincial Emergency Program (Strategic Recommendation #5)

• The provincial government should increase funding for the Provincial Emergency Program (Strategic Recommendation #6)

• The Provincial Emergency Program should report annually on the state of earthquake preparedness in British Columbia (Strategic Recommendation #7)

OPERATIONAL RECOMMENDATONS AFFECTING THE PROVINCIAL EMERGENCY PROGRAM:

• The PEP should measure the extent of public preparedness (this should be done now, to help decide how and where to focus public awareness activities and to provide a baseline for future measurement and, at regular intervals in the future, to help assess the effectiveness of the initiatives), (Operational Recommendation #14)

• The PEP should work with key stakeholders (such as Emergency Preparedness Canada, provincial government agencies, local governments, utilities and private sector organizations) to develop and implement a coordinated public awareness communication strategy (Operational Recommendation #15)

• The PEP should, in conjunction with the development of earthquake planning scenarios, develop an inventory of key provincial infrastructure. Based on the detailed vulnerability analysis the planning scenarios would provide, options for dealing with areas of vulnerability should be considered, the cost of upgrading estimated, and programs proposed to carry out the upgrades on a priority basis over, for example, the next 20 years (Operational Recommendation #16)

• The Ministry of Health and PEP should give immediate attenti8on to reviewing and, where appropriate, strengthening the ability of the health system to respond to a major earthquake (Operational Recommendation #17)

• The PEP should update the British Columbia Earthquake Plan to reflect the current situation, and take steps to have the Emergency Program Management Regulation amended as necessary (Operational Recommendation #20)

• The PEP should develop a new communication strategy to ensure that the provincial response plan is known and understood by local authorities and response agencies (Operational Recommendation #21)

• The PEP should take a stronger, more proactive role that it is now doing, to ensure that supporting ministries keep their earthquake preparedness plans current (Operational Recommendation #22)

• The PEP should continue to work with Emergency Preparedness Canada at the national level to develop further heavy urban search and rescue capability (Operational Recommendation #23)

• The PEP should take a leadership role with respect to the development of systems standards, protocols, guidelines and coordination for resource management (Operational Recommendation #24)

• The PEP should identify a number of potential Provincial Field Response Centre sites at strategic locations throughout the province, test them for suitability, and communicate the details to those agencies likely to be involved in the response efforts (Operational Recommendation #25)

• The PEP should take steps to identify, equip and test an alternative site for its Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre (Operational Recommendation #26)

• The PEP should play a stronger role in providing to local governments advice and assistance regarding response planning, and in monitoring to ensure that all municipalities plan to a certain standard (Operational Recommendation #27)

• The PEP should review on a regular basis with Emergency Preparedness Canada the status of the National Earthquake Support Plan. As well, the Canada-British Columbia Memorandum of Understanding on Emergency Preparedness should be reviewed and, where appropriate, updated (Operational Recommendation #28)

• The PEP should continue to work with its counterparts in Alberta to ensure that the Alberta Support Plan is operational for a real event (Operational Recommendation #29)

• The PEP should remain in contact with the Canadian Forces to ensure that it has current information about the resources and capabilities available, and disseminate this information to municipalities (Operational Recommendation #30)

• The PEP should discuss with Emergency Preparedness Canada the possibility of conducting regular exercises around the National Earthquake Support Plan and its relationship to British Columbia’s plans (Operational Recommendation #31)

• The PEP should develop provincial initiatives to encourage municipalities to test key components of their individual plans sufficiently, and to provide more exercises at the province-wide and regional levels to ensure that the liaison between the emergency response efforts of different levels of government works effectively (Operational Recommendation #32)

• The PEP should prepare a matrix of emergency planning and response positions at both provincial and local government levels, and identify the appropriate training regime needed for each position (Operational Recommendation #33)

• The PEP should obtain from provincial and local government, at least annually, information about the training they have provided to emergency planning and response personnel (Operational Recommendation #34)

• The PEP should develop a clear and practical plan setting out roles, responsibilities and processes for carrying out initial damage assessment immediately following a major earthquake, and communicate the plan to all who will have a role in damage assessment (Operational Recommendation #35)

• The PEP should develop a coordinated plan for upgrading the province’s communication equipment to a more reliable system, and update, finalize and distribute its communications plan (Operational Recommendation #36)

• The PEP should develop and issue a current emergency public information plan as soon as possible, and test the plan on a regular basis (Operational Recommendation #37)

• The PEP should establish and provide to local governments guidelines for the development of business continuation plans (Operational Recommendation #42)

• The PEP should pursue the recommendations made in an interim report of the Joint Emergency Liaison Committee regarding structural assessment. These recommendations include:

• assigning volunteer engineers to pre-designated fire halls

• providing accessible storage of necessary equipment and supplies at pre-designated fire halls

• identifying volunteer engineers and registering them with PEP

• having PEP coordinate the registration of all types of volunteers prior to a disaster

• having PEP develop an education strategy for professionals and the public to inform them about building inspection and posting (Operational Recommendation #43)

• The PEP should advise local governments as to the steps they should take to develop sound plans to inspect and post buildings after an earthquake [helpful in this regard – particularly in establishing priorities for post-earthquake inspections – will be the inventories of hazardous buildings and critical response facilities](Operational Recommendation #44)

• The PEP should, working in conjunction with local governments, ensure that plans are developed to inspect all key infrastructure (whether it be owned provincially or locally)(Operational Recommendation #45)

• The PEP should establish and provide to local governments guidelines for dealing with debris removal (Operational Recommendation #46)

• The PEP should establish and provide to local governments guidelines for planning for reconstruction (Operational Recommendation #47)

APPENDIX III:

AUDITOR GENERAL'S RECOMMENDATIONS TO LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

• Local governments should take steps to apply the seismic elements of the building code to all new critical response facilities (Operational Recommendation #48)

• Local governments should, in conjunction with the development of earthquake planning scenarios), develop an inventory of key infrastructure. Based on the detailed vulnerability analysis the planning scenarios would provide, options for dealing with areas of vulnerability should be considered, the cost of upgrading estimated, and programs proposed to carry out the upgrades on a priority basis over, for example, the next 20 years (Operational Recommendation #49)

• Local governments should develop programs to identify and inventory hazardous buildings and to upgrade the seismic robustness of buildings based on the relative magnitude of risk to the public (Operational Recommendation #50)

• Local governments should assess all critical response facilities, estimate the cost of upgrading them to a standard that would ensure their operability in a post-earthquake situation, and establish priorities for upgrading (Operational Recommendation #51)

• Local governments should ensure they have current, complete earthquake preparedness plans, prepared in accordance with guidelines issued by PEP (Operational Recommendation #52)

• Local governments should develop schedules for testing their plans and ensuring that recommendations arising from the tests are dealt with (Operational Recommendation #53)

• Local governments should develop plans for carrying out initial damage assessment immediately following a major earthquake, and ensure the plans are consistent with the provincial plan (Operational Recommendation #54)

• Local governments should continue to test their ability to communicate with each other and, where significant problems are identified, take steps to correct the problems (Operational Recommendation #55)

• Local governments should develop emergency public information plans, and test them on a regular basis (Operational Recommendation #56)

• Local governments should give immediate attention to completing business continuation plans (Operational Recommendation #57)

• Local governments should, working in conjunction with PEP, ensure that plans are developed to inspect all key infrastructure (whether it be owned provincially or locally), (Operational Recommendation #58)

• Local governments should develop plans for debris removal (Operational Recommendation #59)

• Local governments should establish strategies for long-term reconstruction (Operational Recommendation #60)

APPENDIX IV:

EARTHQUAKE-RELATED LEGISLATION AND KEY AGENCIES, PROGRAMS AND PLANS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

LEGISLATION:

• Emergency Program Management Regulation, B.C. Reg. 477/94: details the responsibilities of the Provincial Emergency Program, assigns emergency and business continuation planning responsibilities to provincial government ministers and corporations, establishes the Inter-Agency Emergency Preparedness Council.

• Compensation and Disaster Financial Assistance Regulation, B.C. Reg. 124/95: allows provincial government to provide financial assistance for property and other losses arising from disasters, sets out qualifying criteria (maximum payable = $100,000 per claim).

• Municipal Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 323: enables local governments to pass by-laws.

• Municipal and Regional District By-laws: passed to authorize local governments and regional districts to establish emergency management organizations and programs, and to enable local governments to carry out assigned responsibilities pursuant to the Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation. Although regional districts are not required to have emergency plans under current legislation (except for unincorporated areas of the province), regional districts can apply under the Municipal Act for the powers required to assume emergency planning responsibilities.

• Local Authority Emergency Management Regulation, B.C. Reg. 380/95: assigns responsibilities to local governments to develop emergency management plans, establish and maintain an emergency management organization, provide emergency response exercises and training programs.

• Emergency Preparedness Act, R.S.C., 1985, c. 6 (4^th Supp.): assented to April 27, 1988, this statute establishes Emergency Preparedness Canada, and requires federal ministers to undertake emergency planning, including provision of assistance and advice to provincial governments and local authorities. Allows the federal government to make regulations respecting financial assistance to provinces.

AGREEMENTS, POLICIES AND PLANS:

• Operation Agile: Canadian Forces, National Defence Headquarters’ plan to provide logistic support to British Columbia in the event of an earthquake. This plan is currently being revised.

• Operation Paladin: Canadian Forces, Land Forces Western Area, plan for providing support to British Columbia in the event of an earthquake. This plan is currently being revised, in light of military base closures.

• Canada – British Columbia Memorandum of Understanding on Emergency Preparedness, signed April 1988: Clarifies respective responsibilities of federal and provincial governments during emergencies, and assigns tasks to each.

• Cooperation in Comprehensive Civil Emergency Planning and Management: this agreement between the federal government and the United States government addresses such things as quick movement of goods across the international border in times of emergency.

PROGRAMS AND AGENCIES:

• Inter-Agency Emergency Preparedness Council: The "IEPC" was created pursuant to the Emergency Program Management Regulation, and makes recommendations to the provincial government regarding coordination of emergency prevention, preparedness, response and recovery measures. It is made up of government employees responsible for emergency planning in their respective ministries, Crown corporations or other agencies. The IEPC has undertaken an initiative to develop a "British Columbia Emergency Response Management System", which is intended to provide all of the different response agencies with a commonly understood command structure in order to avoid confusion and duplication.

• Joint Emergency Liaison Committee: This committee was formed by the provincial government and municipalities in the Greater Vancouver Regional District, in order to facilitate emergency coordination between municipalities, as well as between municipalities and the provincial government.

• Greater Victoria Emergency Coordination Committee: Membership on this committee includes provincial government ministries and Crown corporation representatives, as well as emergency program coordinators from municipalities in the Greater Victoria area. The committee deals with emergency coordination matters in the area.

• North East Sector Emergency Program: A partnership emergency program established since 1996, this program is jointly funded by and covers the municipalities of Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, and Port Moody, as well as the villages of Anmore and Belcarra.

• North and West Vancouver Emergency Program: An intermunicipal agency, supported by the Districts of North and West Vancouver, and the City of North Vancouver. This program has responsibility for the planning, coordination and testing of emergency and disaster response services on the North Shore.

APPENDIX V

POSITIONING OF EMERGENCY ORGANIZATIONS IN OTHER CANADIAN JURISDICTIONS

The majority of Canadian provinces’ emergency programs are positioned in Municipal Affairs. The breakdown is as follows:

• Transportation – 1 (Alberta)

• Municipal or Community Affairs – 6 (Sask., NB, Nfld., PEI, NWT, Yukon)

• Government Services – 1 (Manitoba)

• Solicitor-General – 1 (Ontario)

• Public Security – 1 (Quebec)

• Attorney General – 1 (BC)

APPENDIX VI

STATE AGENCIES, COMMISSIONS, DEPARTMENTS WITH EARTHQUAKE PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE FUNCTIONS (NEIGHBOURING U.S. STATES)

ALASKA:

• Alaska Seismic Hazards Safety Commission – established by statute in February 1998;

• Alaska Division of Emergency Services – Earthquake Project

CALIFORNIA:

• California Seismic Safety Commission: created in 1975 as an independent advisory body to the Governor, Legislature, state and local government agencies, and the general public, the California Seismic Safety Commission provides a coordinated framework for the establishment of earthquake safety policies and programs on a statewide basis. It does not have any regulatory authority, and is a purely advisory body;

• California Office of Emergency Services – Earthquake Program

OREGON:

• Oregon Seismic Safety Policy Advisory Commission: established in 1991, the OSSPAC is responsible for developing and influencing policy at the federal, state and local levels, and facilitating public awareness of seismic risks. The OSSPAC also supports research and advises the Governor and Legislative Assembly regarding earthquake-related plans and proposals;

• Oregon Office of Emergency Management – Earthquake Program

WASHINGTON:

• Washington Seismic Safety Sub-Committee: the sub-committee was established in June 1996, and is a sub-committee of the Washington Emergency Management Council. Its primary role is to monitor statewide implementation of seismic safety improvements, to provide policy recommendations and to advocate for seismic safety issues;

• Washington Military Department, Emergency Management Division;

• Washington Emergency Management Council

OTHERS:

There are 14 other states in the United States which have seismic safety commissions. These take various forms, but most are strictly advisory, providing information and direction to government emergency programs with respect to earthquake hazards, preparedness, risk reductions, response and recovery. There are similar agencies existing in Guam, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Northern Mariana Islands.

APPENDIX VII

WITNESSES

APPENDIX VIII

WRITTEN SUBMISSIONS

APPENDIX IX

RESEARCH DOCUMENTS

GOVERNMENT DOCUMENTS — BRITISH COLUMBIA

1990 Report on Government Earthquake Preparedness Initiatives Covering the Period July 1989 to June 1990 (British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, Provincial Emergency Program, 1991)

B.C. Earthquake Strategy Outline (British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, Provincial Emergency Program, 1999) - pac-RES-029

Bridge Seismic Retrofitting (British Columbia Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Highway Engineering Branch, 1997)

British Columbia Building Code 1998, B.C. Reg 295/98 (Part 1; Section 2.1; Section 4.1.9; Section 9.20.15) - pac-RES-064

British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program. British Columbia Earthquake Response Plan (Interim) (Provincial Emergency Program, Ministry of Attorney General, 1992) - pac-RES-063

British Columbia Tsunami Warning Plan (British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, Provincial Emergency Program, 1995)

Disaster Preparedness Program (British Columbia Ministry of Health, 1990)

Earthquake Preparedness - Performance Audit (Auditor General of British Columbia, November 1997) - pac-RES-012

Earthquake Preparedness in British Columbia (British Columbia Office of the Auditor General, 1997)

Earthquake Preparedness: Summary (Auditor General of British Columbia, November 1997) - pac-RES-013

Earthquakes in British Columbia (British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, Geological Survey Branch, 1991)

Emergency Funding, Briefing Document (A. van Iersel, Comptroller General) - pac-RES-030

Emergency Management Committees (briefing document) (Provincial Emergency Preparedness Program) - pac-RES-065

Emergency Preparedness Guide (British Columbia Housing, 1997)

Emergency Preparedness Program Information Package (including information brochures on various topics relating to earthquake preparedness) (Provincial Emergency Preparedness Program) - pac-RES-062

Emergency Preparedness Week: A Manual for Emergency Social Service Planners

British Columbia Ministry of Social Services and Housing, 1991

Emergency Public Information Plan (Provincial Emergency Program, 1998)

Local Authority Planning Guide (Provincial Emergency Program, 1996)

Local Government Guide: Emergency Preparedness By-laws (British Columbia Ministry of Attorney General, Provincial Emergency Program, 1996)

Pep Talk: Provincial Emergency program (Ministry of Solicitor General, Provincial Emergency Program, 1990 – 1993)

Pocket Earthquake Survival Guide (Provincial Emergency Program, 1997)

Policy and procedures Manual (Provincial Emergency Program, 1998)

Preliminary Seismic Microzonation Assessment for British Columbia (Resources Inventory Committee, Earth Sciences Task Force, 1994)

Present Geological Hazards and Soil Sensitivity to Earthquake Movement (Ministry of Environment, 1979)

School Earthquakes Safety Guide (Ministry of Education, Schools Facilities Branch, 1989)

Urban Survival: Earthquake Awareness in the Workplace (British Columbia Buildings Corporation, 1993)

Assessment of Earthquake Effects on Residential Buildings and Services in the Greater Vancouver Area (Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, 1989)

Basic Rescue Skills (Canada Ministry of Public Works and Government Services, Emergency Preparedness Canada, 1997)

Business Resumption Planning: A Guide (Canada Ministry of Public Works and Government Services, Emergency Preparedness Canada, 1995)

Emergency Preparedness Digest (quarterly) (Canada Ministry of Public Works and Government Services, Emergency Preparedness Canada, 1987)

Expect the Unexpected: Plan for Emergencies (Canada Ministry of Public Works and Government Services, Emergency Preparedness Canada (in cooperation with the Canadian Red Cross, B.C. Provincial Emergency Program, Emergency Social Services), 1995)

Report to Parliament on the Operation of the Emergency Preparedness Act. (Canada Ministry of Public Works and Government Services, Emergency Preparedness Canada, 1989)

Guideline for Property and Casualty Companies: Earthquake Exposure Sound Practices Guideline (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, May 27, 1998)

A Field Guide to the Visible Evidence of the Hayward Fault (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Earthquake Program (California)) - pac-RES-046

A Guide to Strengthening and Repairing Your Home Before the Next Earthquake (Governor's Office of Emergency Services (California)) - pac-RES-049

An Ounce of Prevention: Strengthening Your Wood Frame House for Earthquake Safety - Construction Guide (California Office of Emergency Services, Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project) - pac-RES-047

An Ounce of Prevention: Strengthening Your Wood Frame House for Earthquake Safety, Construction Guide (video) (California Office of Emergency Services, Earthquake Program) - pac-RES-053

Business Resumption Planning Guidelines (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-019

California Earthquake Loss Reduction Plan (The California Seismic Safety Commission) - pac-RES-017

Disaster Assistance: Information on the Cost-Effectiveness of Hazard Mitigation Projects (Statement for the Record by Stanley. J. Czerwinski, Associate Director, Housing and Community Development Issues, Resources, Community & Economic Development Division) - pac-RES-066

Disaster Preparedness Resources for Community-Based Organizations and Specific Populations (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-021

Earthquake Preparedness - "What every childcare provider should know" (California Office of Emergency Services) - pac-RES-015

Earthquake Preparedness Activities for Child Care Providers (Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project (California)) - pac-RES-036

Earthquake Preparedness Guidelines for Large Retirement Complexes and Large Residential Care Facilities (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-020

Earthquake Preparedness Policy: Consideration for School Governing Boards (Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project (California)) - pac-RES-035

Earthquake Preparedness Training for Business (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-039

Earthquake Preparedness: A Key to Small Business Survival (Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project (California)) - pac-RES-040

Earthquake Ready Preparedness for School (Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project (California)) - pac-RES-037

Earthquake Recovery: A Survival Manual for Local Government (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-028

Earthquake Research Affiliates (California Institute of Technology; United States Geological Survey) - pac-RES-054

Earthquakes: A Survival Guide for Seniors (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-023

Earthquakes: Spend a few minutes preparing for a few seconds that could put you out of business (California Seismic Safety Commission) - pac-RES-043

Field Manual: Post Earthquake Safety Evaluation of Buildings (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-041

Finding and Recommendations: Symposium on Policy Issues in the Provision of Post-Earthquake Shelter and Housing (California Office of Emergency Services, Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project) - pac-RES-050

Hazardous Buildings - Case Studies (Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project) - pac-RES-051

Home Buyer's Guide to Earthquake Hazards (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-025

Hospital Earthquake Preparedness Guidelines (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-022

Identification and Reduction of Nonstructural Earthquake Hazards in California Schools (California Office of Emergency Services; Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project; Office of the State Architect) - pac-RES-032

Living and Lasting on Shaky Ground: Earthquake Preparedness for People with Disabilities (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Earthquake Program) - pac-RES-052

Living on the Fault, A Field Guide to the Visible Evidence of the San Andreas Fault (Governor's Office of Emergency Services (California)) - pac-RES-044

National Seismic Safety Advisory Boards' Directory (California Seismic Safety Commission, 1996) - pac-RES-067

Neighbourhood Recovery Strategies: The Tenderloin Neighbourhood (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-027

NEMA/CSG 1998 Report on State Emergency Management Funding and Structures (The Council of State Governments, 1998) - pac-RES-068

Organizing Neighbourhoods for Earthquake Preparedness (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-026

Post-Earthquake Damage Evaluation and Reporting Procedures, A Guideline for California Schools (Office the State Architect, Structural Safety Section) - pac-RES-042

Procedures for Postearthquake Safety: Evaluation of Buildings (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-024

Proceedings: Joint Symposium on Earthquake Hazard Management in Urban Areas (California Office of Emergency Services, Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project) - pac-RES-048

Putting Seismic Safety Policies to Work (California Office of Emergency Services, Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project) - pac-RES-033

Reducing the Risks of Nonstructural Earthquake Damage, A Practical Guide (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Earthquake Program (California)) - pac-RES-038

Schools as Post-Disaster Shelters, Planning and Management Guidelines for Districts and Site (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, Earthquake Program) - pac-RES-031

Seismic Retrofit Incentive Programs, A Handbook for Local Governments (California Office of Emergency Services, Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project) - pac-RES-034

Southern California Earthquake Centre (University of Southern California) - pac-RES-056

The ABCs of Post-Earthquake Evacuation: A Checklist for School Administrators and Faculty (Governor's Office of Emergency Services (California)) - pac-RES-061

The Commercial Property Owner's Guide to Earthquake Safety (Seismic Safety Commission, State of California, 1998) - pac-RES-016

The Homeowner's Guide to Earthquake Safety - 1998 Edition (Seismic Safety Commission, State of California) - pac-RES-055

The Next Big Earthquake in the Bay Area May Come Sooner Than You Think: Are You Prepared? (U.S. Geological Survey, Department of the Interior; American Red Cross; United Way) - pac-RES-058

They Will Come - Post-Disaster Volunteers and Local Governments (Governor's Office of Emergency Services, California) - pac-RES-018

Tremor Troop: Earthquakes (Federal Emergency Management Agency; National Science Teachers Association) - pac-RES-059

Tsunami! How to Survive the Hazard on California's Coast (pamphlet) (California Office of Emergency Services, Earthquake Program) - pac-RES-060

Unreinforced Masonry Buildings, the Threat to Every Community (Bay Area Regional Earthquake Preparedness Project) - pac-RES-045

A Proposal for Action -Canadian Earthquake Exposure and the Insurance Industry (Insurance Bureau of Canada, 1994)

British Columbia Survey of Expenditure on Earthquake Preparedness: Past, Current and Planned - Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council (Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council, 1994)

Earthquake Design in Richmond, B.C. - Byurne, Peter M. (University of British Columbia, Department of Civil Engineering, 1987)

Earthquake Planning for Businesses - Insurance Bureau of Canada (Vancouver, 1992)

Earthquake Survival: The Authoritative guide to Surviving an Earthquake - Randy Eremko and Simon Terlinden (Pan Pacific Promotions Company, 1994)

Earthquake! Your Chances, Your Options, Your Future - Ian Macdonald (Canvendish Books, 1996)

Earthquakes and the Vancouver School District: A Liability Analysis: Legal Memorandum - Hall, J. Richard W. (Vancouver School Board, 1998)

Liquefaction Susceptibility of Greater Vancouver Area Soils (Paper presented to Geohazard '92 Conference - Watts, Bryan, D. (BC Hydro, 1992)

Living with Earthquakes in the Pacific Northwest - Yeats, Robert S. (Corvalis, Oregon: Oregon State University Press, 1998)

Seismic Building Upgrading for Vancouver's Gastown - Karacebyli, Erol and Wong, Brenda (British Columbia Heritage Trust, 1985)

Seismic Risk Assessment of Vancouver School Boards Schools: Final Report to Vancouver School Board - Transit Bridge Group Ltd. (Transit Bridge Group Ltd., 1990) - pac-RES-057

Seismic Risk in British Columbia: 1988 Brief to the British Columbia Government - Association of Professional Engineers of the Province of British Columbia (The Association, 1988)

Study of the Economic Impact of a Severe Earthquake in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia - Munica Reinsurance Company of Canada (Toronto, 1992)

Survey of Emergency Preparedness Training in British Columbia, 1993 - Murphy, Margaret (Environmental Health Assessment and Safety, 1993)

Army uses storm as dress rehearsal for earthquake
Victoria Times-Colonist, January 9, 1997, p. A4

Board makes list of schools that may need major repairs
The Vancouver Sun, October 30, 1998, p. B1, B4

City considering earthquake rescue team
Vancouver Sun, February 13, 1995, p. B2

Costs must be factored into school quake safety
The Vancouver Sun, September 15, 1998, p. A14

Courtenay theatre shut indefinitely
Victoria Times-Colonist, December 2, 1998, p. B12

Earthquake apathy
The Vancouver Sun, January 20, 1997, p. A11

Earthquake drill bring call for school upgrades
The Vancouver Sun, may 8, 1998, p. B1

Earthquake in B.C. may be unimaginable, but it's inevitable
Vancouver Sun, July 27, 1993, p. B1

Earthquake menace makes fixed-up schools a priority
Vancouver Sun, December 10, 1993, p. A11

Earthquake preparedness not for the next guy
The Province, August 10, 1995, p. B10

Earthquake risk demands precautions
The Vancouver Sun, April 14, 1992, p. A12

Earthquake upgrades required at old city schools, official says
The Vancouver Sun, April 17, 1998, p. B1

Earthquakes, Ground-breaking
The Economist, January 30, 1999, p. 75

Evidence of massive earthquake uncovered by Island dig
Victoria Times-Colonist, December 4, 1992, p. A3

Guess which schools need fix
The Vancouver Province, November 5, 1998, p. A14

Insuring against possibility of earthquake
Victoria Times-Colonist, May 4, 1996, p. B2

Lower earthquake, home insurance promised by CDI
The Vancouver Sun, January 10, 1998, p. E2

Magnitude of the cost could shake taxpayers: bridge and tunnel earthquake safety
The Province, January 25, 1998, p. A30-31

Making city schools earthquake-proof will take 25 years, board official says
Vancouver Sun, February 10, 1994, p. B3

Modern communication system called key to implementing earthquake plan
Vancouver Sun, January 19, 1994, p. A2

No area building inventory despite earthquake risks
Victoria Times-Colonist, January 21, 1994, p. A1

Region lacks earthquake-response official
Vancouver Sun, January 20, 1994, p. B1

Report pegs earthquake-proof fire protection at 30 million
The Vancouver Sun, April 13, 1992, p. B5

Richmond challenges foundations of earthquake planning
The Vancouver Sun, April 10, 1996, p. B2

Seattle spends big, works quickly to upgrade its schools
Vancouver Sun, March 28, 1998, p. A10

Shakin' all over: insurers could be showing some cracks when the Big Earthquake strikes B.C.
Vancouver Sun, July 26, 1992, p. D8

Study Says B.C. liable for earthquake toll on schools
The Vancouver Sun, June 4, 1998, p. B4

Two mothers devise earthquake survival kits for schools
The Vancouver Sun, March 3, 1998, p. B5

We could be overdue for the big one: tree-root rings say massive earthquake hit B.C.
January 26, 1700
The Province, October 31, 1997

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