Fernie Emergency Preparedness & Response

November 28, 2021

UPDATED: 08:10 AM, Thursday, December 2, 2021.
 
The Rainfall Warning previously issued by Environment Canada for the Elk Valley has now ended.
 
The Province issued a High Streamflow Advisory for the Elk River and tributaries on November 28, 2021, 10:30 AM and is still in effect. Use extreme caution around waterways and be prepared. Creeks and tributaries are subject to sudden, unpredictable changes, so make sure to stay well back from their banks.
 
The Regional Evacuation Notification System is powered by Voyent Alert! and directly notifies East Kootenay area residents of evacuation orders or alerts. In flood emergency situations, residents may only have minutes or hours to respond to evacuation notifications.
 
We encourage all residents to sign up for the Evacuation Notification System, here: http://ow.ly/x2Nq50GZVQW
 
For details on how to prepare emergency grab-and-go bags, visit:
 
Residents who see, or are experiencing, wide-scale flooding are encouraged to report it immediately to the Provincial Emergency Coordination Centre at 1-800-663-3456. This is the fastest and most effective way to activate local emergency management personnel.
 
If you are experiencing a life safety emergency, call 911.
 
Coal Creek remains a significant concern with substantial bank erosion and is being monitored for vulnerability. Please avoid all trails and dikes along the Coal Creek corridor and obey all closure signage. Closures are in place for your safety.
 
It's always a good idea to know the hazards, make a kit, and have a plan. Follow https://twitter.com/PreparedBC as a great starting point for guides on being prepared and for trusted sources of information as we continue to face challenging weather conditions.
 
Self-serve sandbag stations are available at:
  • Fernie - Corner of Railway Ave & Ridgemont Ave, across from TJ’s Auto Body.
  • Hosmer – Elk River Hostel/Pub – Hwy 3 at 6th Avenue (in the lot south of the pub)
Please bring your own shovels and gloves.
 
Helpful tips on how to build a sandbag dike can be found, here: https://fernie.civicweb.net/filepro/documents/133276
 
Our Operations department and Engineers continue to work around the clock to protect critical infrastructure and the safety of our community.