VANCOUVER EMERGENCE DISASTER RESPONSE

ABSTRACT

The Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) is exposed to some of the highest levels of seismic risk in Canada, and for the dense urban populations, geographical positioning and infrastructure of Vancouver, it poses an even higher risk.  For risk management and emergency planning in a major natural disaster scenario, it is essential to have plans of evaluation and preferred destinations where help, equipment and emergency personnel will be available.

Geographic information systems can be used to map areas of high/low risk after a natural disaster occurs. Areas of high risk include regions falling within a buffer zone designated to potential slope failure, transformer stations, large water pipeline systems, coastal regions, low elevations and liquefaction. Using GIS, we can map out the regions within Vancouver that are at high risk of slope failure, electrical surges, liquefaction and pipeline bursts, and determine the best possible routes for people to reach the desired destinations of local community centers and hospitals.