EMERGENCY PLANNING SECRETARIAT
Yo:yes Sq'eq'o | Working Together
EVACUATIONS
OVERVIEW
An evacuation is the organized movement of people away from an area where there is an immediate or anticipated threat to life and safety. When conditions become dangerous, leaving quickly and safely is often the most important action a community or individual can take.
Evacuations can be triggered by a wide range of hazards, such as wildfires, floods, tsunamis, landslides, and hazardous material incidents. In British Columbia, wildfires are among the most common causes of large-scale evacuations, but the province's climate and geography mean that communities may face evacuation risk from multiple hazard types.
Evacuations are not always predictable, and may need to happen with very little warning. Having plans in place before an emergency occurs allows communities to respond confidently, quickly, and safely to threats.
ISSUING
In BC, it is the responsibility of First Nations and local governments to issue and communicate evacuation notices to their communities. The relevant Emergency Management and Climate Readiness (EMCR) regional office can facilitate coordination between all partners throughout the process.
Terminology
Evacuation Alert
Conditions are changing and residents may need to leave on short notice. Community members should begin preparing.
Evacuation Order
Danger is imminent and those in the affected area are at immediate risk. Community members must leave immediately.
Tactical Evacuation
A sudden threat to life requires immediate action and there is no time to prepare or issue written warnings.
Evacuation Rescinded
The risk to life and safety has passed and community members may return to the area.
For more information, please visit the Evacuation Operational Guide for Local Authorities.
TRIGGERS
There is no set threshold for when to issue Evacuation Orders or Alerts, and is dependent on your community's landscape, infrastructure, risk analysis, and the analysis of the hazard. It is important for a community to develop their own plan, which can be developed from the [for communities] document from the EMCR Office of British Columbia.
CHECKLISTS
It is important to have a clear process for what to do after deciding to issue an Alert or Order. EMCR has developed checklists for various notifications, which can be utilized by First Nations communities. Alternatively, they can be used as a basis for developing your own checklist that is personalized to your community.
Templates from EMCR
SOLEs
For communities responding to heightened or extreme emergencies in their community, declaring a State of Local Emergency (SOLE) is a good practice. It can help reduce delays in response time if an Evacuation Alert must shift to an Evacuation Order, and increase opportunities for funding and reimbursement. SOLEs do not need government approval and can be handled by a nation, such as through Chief and Council signing a Band Council Resolution.
Templates from EMCR
NOTIFICATIONS
Notifications for Alerts, Orders, and Rescinds should be consistent and detailed.
EMCR has developed templates specifically for First Nations communities. These templates can be edited to meet your communities needs.
Templates from EMCR
COMMUNICATING ALERTS
Notifications and updates can be delivered through a variety of methods, including:
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Community meetings and public gatherings.
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Social media pages.
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Community bulletins and newsletters.
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Subscription-based mass notification apps like Alertable.
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Note: only subscribed members will receive notifications, so encouraging sign-ups before an emergency is important.
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Public address systems.
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Door-to-door canvassing.
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Local radio and television.
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Sirens where available.
For members without reliable internet or cell service, backup communication methods should be identified and in place before an emergency occurs.
RADIO
Licensed amateur (ham) radio operator volunteers, can relay messages between the community, emergency officials, and neighbouring Nations when normal networks are down.
Identifying who holds a licence locally and building them into your emergency plan can be a beneficial addition.
EVACUATION PLANNING
Effective evacuation planning happens well before an emergency occurs. Having routes, muster points, and procedures established and tested in advance gives communities the best chance of evacuating safely and efficiently when time is critical.
Before major emergency seasons, it is beneficial to test potential evacuation routes with partners to ensure they are viable under different conditions such as smoke, darkness, and heavy traffic. Conducting a community-wide emergency drill can help identify gaps, build confidence, and ensure all partners know their roles before conditions are real.
Communities with limited exit routes should consider planning for alternative methods (e.g. air, marine). Consideration should also be given to issuing evacuation notices earlier to ensure routes remain passable before conditions worsen.
Most evacuations occur through roadways and highways. There are multiple factors to consider when planning evacuation routes, including congestion, vulnerable areas, and the number of evacuees. The Evacuation Operational Guide for Local Authorities from EMCR provides a detailed list of planning considerations.
Your EMCR PREOC can provide support with evacuation route planning and coordination.
WHEN NOT TO EVACUATE
Evacuation is not always the safest option. In some situations, leaving can put people at greater risk than sheltering in place. The decision must be weighed carefully against current conditions, available routes, and how quickly the hazard is moving.
In July 2026, at least 12 people died attempting to flee a forest fire in southern Spain's Almeria region. Authorities had instructed residents to shelter in place, including through door-to-door notifications, but some ignored these instructions. Following official guidance during an active emergency can be the difference between a safe outcome and a fatal one.
While it is not possible to control the individual actions of residents, having a comprehensive and collaborative plan can help build trust that your leadership is making the right decisions. Specific actions that can contribute to building trust include:
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Designating and communicating evacuation routes clearly before an emergency occurs.
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Monitoring conditions continuously and updating guidance as the situation changes.
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Being explicit with community members about which routes are safe and why.
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Recognizing that shelter-in-place may be the safer option in some situations, even when evacuation feels instinctive.
When in doubt, contact EMCR at 1-800-663-3456 for guidance on whether to shelter or evacuate.
EMCR Task Number
Communities experiencing emergencies may be eligible to obtain an Emergency Management and Climate Readiness task number through the Southwest Region EMCR.
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1-888-663-3456
A task number will enable your community to be compensated for resources spent on response.
Risk Specific Information
HOW WE CAN HELP
We support 31 communities, from Yale to Semiahmoo to Squamish, in improving emergency planning and preparedness at the local and regional levels.
In an emergency, we can:
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Provide surge support to administration and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
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Assist with the coordination of resources to communities.
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Facilitate coordination communication with affected community members and partners.
Before an emergency, we can:
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Assist with project engagement for emergency-related projects.
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Coordinate discussions and collaborative efforts between communities, governments and other agencies.
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Assist in communications and information management for contracts, projects and initiatives throughout the regional levels.
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Assist in developing community emergency plans and preparedness toolkits for application during emergency situations.
Our vision is to have all of the 31 Mainland Coast Salish First Nations, from Yale to Squamish to Semiahmoo, resilient to existing and future disasters.