The New Normal: Disaster Management in the 21st Century

Strategic Review of 2017 Wildfire and Freshet Flooding Seasons

The Government of British Columbia has published a report, written by Mr. George Abbott and Chief Maureen Chapman detailing the findings and recommendations from an independent review of British Columbia’s unprecedented flood and wildfire 2017 season.

The Emergency Management section of the Province of British Columbia's website states:

The 2017 wildfire season was unprecedented in British Columbia’s recorded history, and the spring flooding that preceded it resulted in hardships for many residents. More than 1.2 million hectares were burned and about 65,000 people were displaced as a result of the 2017 wildfires, while about 2,500 people were forced from their homes by freshet flooding.

On December 4, 2017, the B.C. government announced an independent review of the 2017 wildfire and spring freshet seasons. Co-chaired by George Abbott and Chief Maureen Chapman, the review team held a series of open houses and met with First Nations, local governments and other groups of British Columbians affected by wildfires and flooding that year.

On April 30, 2018, Abbott and Chapman delivered their final report, entitled Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in British Columbia. The B.C. Government is already acting on 19 of the report’s 108 recommendations. An action plan to address all of the recommendations will be completed by Oct. 31, 2018.

The report is available here:

Addressing the New Normal: 21st Century Disaster Management in British Columbia

Stay safe.