I shudder to think about what will happen when the "Big One" hits the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island of British Columbia. I think it will make Katrina look like a garden party at Buckingham Palace.
Unlike a hurricane, there is no warning of a large earthquake. Everybody, rich and poor, white, Asian, Native, etc., is stuck there.
By all accounts most bridges and older buildings, including schools, are not earthquake proof, including Lions Gate Bridge. Richmond, where the airport is located, will liquify.
Add to that the areas organised crime gangs and Downtown Eastside junkies, there is a potential law enforcement problem ready to explode at the slightest sign that the civil authority has lost control. One thing in our favour is that unlike NOPD, the municipal police agencies in the area don't have a history of corruption.
The closest regular army units are located in Edmonton. From what I've heard, it would take them 3 days to arrive in the disaster area.
We won't be able to rely on our American cousins for assistance because they will be dealing with the aftermath in western Washington, and possibly Oregon.
That leaves the local rerserve units on Vancouver Island, the Lower Mainland, and possibly the Southern Interior. They, with local emergency and law enforcement agencies, are well placed for dealing with the immediate aftermath. However in my short time in the reserves, not once were we trained in aid to civil power procedures, nor were we ever briefed on what is to happen in such an event. In a large earthquake, many of the communication systems will be down, so it will be extremely difficult to issue a call-out unless unit members are briefed before hand. IMHO, procedures and training should be developed for all ranks in these units since they will be first on the scene until the Regular Force arrives.
If we sit back in judgement of the Yanks, and do little to learn their lessons, we do so at our own peril.
