Irvine residents give feedback on evacuation

This caused the evacuation after it was confirmed by first responders there was a chemical exposure.

Dalton confirmed to the community that there were three syrene tankers, one methanol tanker, and two methanol residual tankers (0-30 per cent inside) were involved.

Dalton also told the group that some county officials were already gathered with a wildfire flare-up happening right before the derailment.

“We were actually already in problem-solving mode. So it was just moving forward with the problem on hand.” Dalton explained. “Actually we didn’t get too much time to think about it. It just kind of happened. So we just had to react very quickly and we didn’t get an opportunity to second guess any of our decisions there.”

Residents were told to evacuate approximately 45 minutes after the derailment.

A time that Garry Dzioba, a regional field officer with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency, told the crowd was very good.

“They reacted quickly to the event as it unfolded. And public safety is always number one and they sure made that a focus this time. And they got potentially impacted people out of the way.” He said.

Although residents seemed to be overall happy with how the county handled the emergency, one of the main concerns was a lack of notifications on their phones about the evacuation.

Dzioba told residents that they should have received notifications.

He explained that notifications meant to go out in a situation like an evacuation should go out to everyone using the closest cell towers to the event.

“There was some concern raised here tonight about some of the residents that didn’t receive the evacuation order when it was issued. And we’re going to look into that and just see where the downfall was or if there actually was a downfall in that.” Dzioba said.

Dalton said the lack of notifications was his biggest takeaway from the meeting.

“That’s something that definitely is a concern,” Dalton said. “But we will take it back to AEMA and see if we can address some of those concerns.”

Dalton and other county staff helped those in attendance download the “Alberta Emergency Alert App” onto their phones.

Something they stressed everyone in the province should have as a safety net in case notifications don’t come through as they should.

Dzioba also brought up the importance of a 72-hour emergency kit.

“Emergency management is everybody’s responsibility. And that’s right down to the people that live in the municipalities.” He continued. “You should have a check sheet ready to go as well. So if you do get that evacuation order you can quickly check your sheet, you can grab your 72-hour kit. Which should include medication. Please take your pets with you as well. Make sure you have water and supplies to last 72 hours.” He said.

Dalton added that the county will review the public feedback collected as part of their debrief on Tuesday.

He says that the debrief won’t only include the county but first responders, SEASAR, and CP.

Public feedback forms are still available online for residents not in attendance to fill out and drop off at the county office.

by Hayley Ferguson

Irvine residents give feedback on evacuation

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