Tofino hosted a High Ground Hike and Emergency Preparedness Fair on Sunday to bring locals up to speed on what to do if disaster strikes.
The district first held the hike in 2016 and added the preparedeness fair in 2017.
This year’s hike saw an impressive turnout of locals walk from Tofino’s First Street Dock to high ground at the Community Hall where the fair was held along with an open house on the district’s emergency notification processes.
“Our second annual Emergency Preparedness Fair had great turnout, not only from emergency responders and agencies involved in preparedness, but also from so many community members who came out to learn more about preparedness,” said Tofino mayor Josie Osborne.
She added locals also gave the district “excellent feedback” on their experience during Jan. 23’s Tsunami Warning evacuation event.
“Regular communications and education with the public are part of the District of Tofino’s emergency coordination program, and being able to increase awareness, dialogue and preparedness are big goals for our program,” she said. “This includes our third High Ground Hike, a regular evacuation exercise that we picked up after the province came to us in 2016 to engage and support the community in increased our preparedness.”