FIRE & FLOOD – FACING TWO EXTREMES IN BRITISH COLUMBIA (Part 1): “The devastation, driven in part by climate change, say experts, is expected to worsen with drier, hotter summers, more frequent floods and rising oceans,” wrote Gordon Hoekstra and Glenda Luymes (May 2022)
Note to Reader:
In the 7-part series published by Postmedia, and title, Fire & Flood: Facing Two Extremes, reporters Gordon Hoekstra and Glenda Luymes reveal that B.C. has fallen dangerously short of what’s required to protect our cities and towns from extreme weather events like we saw in 2021.And we fall further behind every year.
We’re not prepared when extreme wildfires, flooding hit B.C.
Part 1 is titled B.C. is facing two extremes — is your community ready? Part 1 reveals that of 75 B.C. communities examined, more than two thirds do not have a detailed flood plan, have only parts of a plan or have just started a plan.
“Postmedia’s four-month examination drew from responses to questions put to more than 85 municipalities, First Nations and regional districts; thousands of pages of government-commissioned, academic and other independent reports, and community wildfire and flood protection plans and other municipal records; and dozens of interviews with community representatives, experts and those carrying out work to protect communities from floods and wildfires,” wrote Gordon Hoekstra and Glenda Luymes.
To Learn More:
To read the complete story in Part 1 of the series, download a PDF copy of Part 1: Fire & Flood: B.C. is facing two extremes — is your community ready?
Water and a Changing Climate: Drought Affects Us All
“A long career provides perspective. In my five decades as water resource planner and engineer, there are three years that really stand out in British Columbia when the topic is water conservation,” stated Kim Stephens, Executive Director, Partnership for Water Sustainability in BC, in a presentation that he delivered on Bowen Island in July 2021.
“After what in respect was a benign half-century, 1987 was BC’s first wake up call. The drought was unprecedented in living memory. But it was 2003 that truly was what we call ‘the teachable year.’ This really got the attention of British Columbians that the climate was indeed changing. In 2015, the West Coast of North America crossed an invisible threshold into a different hydro-meteorological regime. And it has happened faster than anyone expected,”
To Learn More: