Tsunami Preparedness Strategic Plan

Introduction

On Tuesday, January 23rd, 2018, there was tsunami warning for Vancouver Island due to a 7.9 earthquake in Alaska. During this tsunami warning, there was a Telus outage which resulted in no phone or internet service in Oclucje from January 22nd, 2018 (12:00pm) to January 24th, 2018 (9:30am).

Because of this outage, Nuchatlaht Tribe did not receive a tsunami warning from EMBC. There was an Ehattesaht member that did come knocking on doors around 6:20am on the day of the tsunami warning to inform Oclucje residents about the earthquake and tsunami, after the tsunami warning was off.

The Tyee Ha’wilth Walter Michael informed Mason Ducharme (Band Administrator) that a plan needs to be made to prepare for a tsunami. Mason Ducharme held a focus group with the Tyee Ha’wilth and Nuchatlaht Tribe staff to get their input on a Tsunami Preparedness Strategic Plan. This is the final document that accounts for everyone’s comments.

1. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) Analysis

1A) Strengths
 Close-knit community where everyone knows where each other is, and how to contact them
 Have communication devices (VHFs, and Satellite Phones)
 A nice mixture of night owls and early birds which is beneficial as someone is likely to be awake when a tsunami warning is issued
 Experience of some community members in dealing with tsunami warnings. I.e., some members were alive during the 1964 tsunami
 The animals on the reserve can detect when a natural disaster occurs. I.e, during the January 23rd, 2018 Tsunami Warning, the dogs on the reserve were barking like crazy
 Members have the ability to live off the land due to their experience as hunters, fisherman, and gatherers of vegetation
 The Band Administrator and the Tyee Ha’wilth are subscribed to the EMBC alert system which means that they receive a call and email when a tsunami warning is issued in the territory
 There is Telus high speed internet in Oclucje
 There are generators for each household

1B) Weaknesses
 Don’t utilize the communication resources efficiently (VHF Radios, and Satellite Phone)
 Insufficient Tsunami Warning Drills
 Reactive, not proactive
 No Tsunami Preparedness Plan in place
 Unfamiliar with the Community Emergency Plan (2010)
 Not enough members trained in First Aid (especially, First Aid Level 3)
 Misplaced Survival Kits
 Members do not have go-bags ready and/or the bags are not easily accessible
 Band buildings (infrastructure) and band houses
 Houses 2, 3, and 4 are in the tsunami zone
 The water treatment centre is in the tsunami zone
 There are no specific tsunami preparedness supplies for elders and babies

1C) Opportunities
 Identifying the muster point
 Ongoing maintenance of the muster point
 Seeking an addition to reserve at a higher elevation to ensure that there is no tsunami impact risk
 Making the buildings earthquake proof
 Getting a sea can to store tsunami preparedness items
 Finding funding to implement this Tsunami Preparedness Strategic Plan
 Practicing safety exercises (i.e, Tsunami Drills) semi-annually
 Buying survival kits
 Deliver First Aid Training in Olucje
 Working with neighbours to create a regional response strategy
 Buying VHFs for each household
 Getting Xplorenet for the Health Clinic
 Setup a Communications Centre in the Health Clinic
 Delivering a community workshop on Tsunami Preparedness
 Setting aside jarred fish for Tsunami Preparedness
 Building a trail/road to reach the muster station
 Attaching a hose or tap to the water reservoir tank

1D) Challenges
 Only one road in and out of Oclucje
 Oclucje’s two bridges could break during the tsunami
 Funding is allocated on a competitive basis – it’ll likely be more difficult to secure funding after the January 23rd, 2018 Alaskan Earthquake
 The Telus intern and Phones go out often in Oclucje
 The power goes down in Oclucje often
 Oclucje is semi-isolated
 The Zeballos Forest Road is consistently in rough shape

2. Strategic Issues

Strategic issues are the questions that an organization wants to answer in a strategic plan.
These are the strategic issue questions for this plan.

1. Do we have enough food during a tsunami?

2. Do we have the means to communicate during a tsunami?

3. Can we survive a tsunami for 7 days?

4. Do we have the means to leave Oclucje during a tsunami?

5. Where will our muster station be located?

6. Do we have everyone’s phone numbers?

7. Do we have the funding to implement this plan?

8. How can we accommodate our elders and children in reaching the muster station?

9. How can we ensure the safety of the muster station and camp?

10. How can we implement the community emergency plan (2010)?

3. Goals

Strategic Issue	Goals
Do we have enough food during a tsunami?	To have enough food during a tsunami
Do we have the means to communicate during a tsunami?	To have the means to communicate during a tsunami
Can we survive a tsunami for 7 days?	To survive a tsunami for 7 days
Do we have the means to leave Oclucje during a tsunami?	To have the means to leave Oclucje during a tsunami
Where will our muster station be located?	To identify a muster station location
Do we have everyone’s phone numbers?	To have everyone’s updated phone numbers
Do we have the funding to implement this plan?	To secure funding to implement this plan.
How can we accommodate our elders and children in reaching the muster station?	To accommodate our elders and children in reaching the muster station
How can we ensure the safety of the muster station and camp?	To ensure the safety of the muster station and camp
How can we implement the community emergency plan (2010)?	To implement the community emergency plan (2010)

4. Objectives

Goals	Objectives
To have enough food during a tsunami	There is enough food to last 7 days for 30 people on an annual basis, not exceeding the cost of $4,000.00.
To have the means to communicate during a tsunami	All of the communication devices are setup immediately, and new equipment is purchased, not exceeding the cost of $3,000.00
To survive a tsunami for 7 days	To have the essential shelter, food, heating, medicine, communication, and training, not exceeding a cost of $10,000.00.
To have the means to leave Oclucje during a tsunami	To add one more trail/road to leave Oclucje and head to the muster station by 2018, not exceeding a cost of $30,000.00.
To identify a muster station location	To have a muster station located by 2018
To have everyone’s updated phone numbers	To have an updated on-reserve contact list by 2018
To secure funding to implement this plan.	To secure $XXX,XXX.XX in funding to implement this plan by 2019
To accommodate our elders and children in reaching the muster station	To have every child and elder reach the muster station 30 minutes after the tsunami evacuation alert
To ensure the safety of the muster station and camp	To have zero vandalism and theft incidents at the muster station
To implement the community emergency plan (2010)	To have a community meeting workshop to review the community emergency plan binder material on an annual basis

5. Strategies and Objectives

A1) Objectives

There is enough food to last 7 days for 30 people on an annual basis, not exceeding the cost of $4,000.00.

B1) Strategies

Research how much food is needed and the cost and options

Purchase hunting and fishing tools to use during tsunami evacuations

Create a survey to ask the on-reserve members what food will be eaten during the tsunami evacuation

Distribute the survey to the on-reserve members

Purchase food and water for the tsunami evacuation

Process foodfish, clams and mowich to set aside for the tsunami evacuation

Store the food and water

Inspect the quality of the tsunami evacuation food

Strategies and Objectives (Continued)

Strategies / objectives (a2 - b2)

A2) Objectives

All of the communication devices are setup immediately, and new equipment is purchased, not exceeding the cost of $5,000.00.

B2) Strategies

Setup Xplorenet in the Health Clinic

Purchase a new tsunami siren

Find a tv for the health clinic

Setup satellite tv in the health centre

Purchase a VHF radio for each house

Conduct a communications devices inventory

Convert the health clinic into a communications centre

Setup all VHF radios and satellite phones

To train Community Liaison worker in the use of VHF radios

Strategies / objectives (A3 - b3)

A3) Objectives

To have the essential shelter, food, heating, medicine, communication, and training, not exceeding a cost of $10,000.00.

B3) Strategies

To purchase three canvas tents

Buy two sea cans to use as tsunami preparation storage

To pack wood to the muster station

To get First Aid Level 1 Training Delivered in Oclucje

To get First Aid Level 2 Training delivered in Oclucje

To get First Aid Level 3 Training delivered in Oclucje

To order a survival kit for each house

Strategies / Objectives (A4 - B4)

A4) Objectives

To add one more trail/road to leave Oclucje and head to the muster station by 2018, not exceeding a cost of $30,000.00.

B4) Strategies

To get permission from BC to build a trail to the muster station from Oclucje

To ask Tony Wong to where a trail can be built without it affecting the water lines

To flag the trail area for cutters

To hire people and companies to cut the trail/road

Create a maintenance plan for the trail/road

Strategies / Objectives (a5 - B5)

A5) Objectives

To have a muster station located by 2018

B5) Strategies

To identify potential muster stations

To propose potential muster station locations to BC

Create a construction plan for the muster station

Research the cost of an excavator to purchase

Strategies / Objectives (a6 - b6)

A6) Objectives

To have an updated on-reserve contact list by 2018

B6) Strategies

Go house to house confirming everyone’s contact information and if they are willing to share their contact information

Distribute the contact information sheet through email and via physical paper

Strategies / Objectives (a7 - B7)

A7) Objectives

To secure $XXX,XXX.XX in funding to implement this plan by 2019

B7) Strategies

Research funding opportunities specific to emergency preparedness

Apply for funding

Strategies / Objectives (a8 - b8)

A8) Objectives

To have every child and elder reach the muster station 30 minutes after the tsunami evacuation alert

B8) Strategies

To purchase a UTV to transport elders and children

To identify a support person for each household that has an elder(s) or child(ren)

To practice tsunami drills

To ensure spare jerry cans are always available to fill up the UTV

Create a list of items needed in a go-bag for each household

Host a tsunami awareness workshop

Build a tsunami muster station sign

Build a community bulletin board near the entrance of Oclucje used to inform people that there is a tsunami warning and that everyone is at the muster station

Strategies / Objectives (a9 - b9)

A9) Objectives

To have zero vandalism and theft incidents at the muster station

B9) Strategies

Buy trail cams

Build a sign stating that the area is under surveillance

Monitor the muster station on a weekly basis

Build a fence around the muster station

Strategies / Objectives (a10 - B10)

A10) Objectives

To have a community meeting workshop to review the community emergency plan binder material on an annual basis

B10) Strategies

Review the Community Emergency Plan (2010) Binder

Create the presentation materials

Organize the meeting

Present the presentation materials at the meeting

THE TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS
STRATEGIC PLAN (TPSP)

The TPSP has been constructed to better benefit Nuchatlaht Tribe. To learn more about the TPSP, click the link below.

Learn More

OUR VISION

Nuchatlaht Tribe’s tsunami preparedness and response is very quick, well equipped, well informed, communicates with the necessary people and organizations, organized, and most importantly, results in everyone surviving tsunamis.

Introduction

1. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) Analysis

2. Strategic Issues

3. Goals

4. Objectives

5. Strategies and Objectives

Strategies and Objectives (Continued)

THE TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS
STRATEGIC PLAN (TPSP)

OUR VISION

​Nuchatlaht Tribe’s tsunami preparedness and response is very quick, well equipped, well informed, communicates with the necessary people and organizations, organized, and most importantly, results in everyone surviving tsunamis.

Introduction

1. ​Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) Analysis

2. Strategic Issues

3. Goals

4. Objectives

5. Strategies and Objectives

Strategies and Objectives (Continued)

THE TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESSSTRATEGIC PLAN (TPSP)

Nuchatlaht Tribe’s tsunami preparedness and response is very quick, well equipped, well informed, communicates with the necessary people and organizations, organized, and most importantly, results in everyone surviving tsunamis.

1. Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Challenges (SWOC) Analysis

THE TSUNAMI PREPAREDNESS
STRATEGIC PLAN (TPSP)