Oak Bay emergency protocol fared well during a tsunami warning issued early this morning for the entire , says Oak Bay Fire Chief Dave Cockle.

The National Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning at 1:35 a.m. after an earthquake 279 kilometres off the coast of Kodiak, Alaska. It was originally listed at a magnitude of 8.2, but was revised to 7.9. The tsunami warning was cancelled just after 4 a.m.

The National Tsunami Warning Centre issued a tsunami warning at 1:35 a.m. after an earthquake 279 kilometres off the coast of Kodiak, Alaska. It was originally listed at a magnitude of 8.2, but was revised to 7.9. The tsunami warning was cancelled just after 4 a.m.

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Cockle, also the communityB次元官网网址檚 emergency coordinator, was notified immediately at home and got on the computer to source information to make key decisions. That included contacting Eileen Grant, manager of emergency programs, to set up a Level 1 team and reception centre at Oak Bay Recreation Centre.

Big Thanks to Chief Cockle , and emergency prog volunteers for B次元官网网址榖eing readyB次元官网网址� Our reception centre was set-up at OB Rec Centre (w coffee!) & evacuation plans coordinated w & ready to go. Thankfully not needed!

B次元官网网址� Nils Jensen (@MayorNils)

B次元官网网址淭hose parts of the plan went very well,B次元官网网址� said Cockle. Two residents showed at the reception centre and another two behind municipal hall. B次元官网网址淭he nice thing was they all had kits,B次元官网网址� he added.

Based on the information available, Oak Bay chose not to evacuate its two low-lying areas McNeill Bay and near Willows Beach.

B次元官网网址淲e were not receiving any reports of damage along the coast from the earthquake. The information I was getting B次元官网网址� was that there didnB次元官网网址檛 seem to be anything happening. Even in Kodak itself they werenB次元官网网址檛 reporting immediate damage,B次元官网网址� Cockle said.

Oak Bay did start staging evacuation teams of police and fire and had them hold and wait. In the case of evacuation, firefighters, police and volunteers would go door to door and run announcements in the street.

B次元官网网址淵ou make decisions based on all of the information youB次元官网网址檙e receiving,B次元官网网址� Cockle said. B次元官网网址淭he other piece we looked at was when the earthquake occurred is where our tides were.B次元官网网址�

Around 5 a.m. roughly the time high water was expected to hit the Island, Oak Bay would have had 6 foot tides with a .3 metre increase expected.

Oak Bay Emergency Program supports, during its education sessions, moving about two blocks to high ground. For example those in McNeill Bay could head for Central Avenue for safety.

B次元官网网址淲e do have plans in there for evacuation, we also have plans for warning which includes going through the street with fire trucks and police cars and using the PA to move people out. We start with the people who are immediately impacted and move our way back,B次元官网网址� Cockle said.

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That said, emergency services are always always looking for new methods of alerting. Oak Bay is also montioring the program that did rouse many in the region, to see if itB次元官网网址檚 applicable to Oak Bay. The best, Cockle said, would be a smart phone app.

B次元官网网址淭hat future is coming, I donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 too far down the road based on the technology thatB次元官网网址檚 out there,B次元官网网址� he said.

Mother Nature generously gave us yet another warning last night. Are we ready ? Are you personally ready? What's your plan? Are your loved ones ready? How about that senior next door?

B次元官网网址� Oak Bay Police (@OakBayPolice)

Oak Bay Emergency Program has a Disaster Recovery information session slated for Wednesday, Feb. 21 at 1 p.m. at Monterey Recreation Centre. All OBEP workshops and events are free, but organizers recommend registering to guarantee a seat. Call 250-592-9121 or email obep@oakbay.ca to register.