High Ground Hike

High Ground Hike - Get tsunami prepared!

During Tsunami Preparedness Week, April 14 - 20 2024, participate in Ucluelet's High Ground Hike.

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Launched in 2016, High Ground Hike is a community event that’s held every year during Tsunami Preparedness Week, the second full week of April. The purpose is to raise awareness about B.C.’s tsunami risk and give coastal residents an opportunity to practice reaching their tsunami safe zone.

Join us on Sunday April 14, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Big Beach for Ucluelet's High Ground Hike!

The High Ground Hike group will be walking from Big Beach up to the Ucluelet Secondary School (our town’s reception center). There will be arrow markers along the way showing the path to high ground. At Big Beach there will be an introduction, education, and announcements, including a presentation from BC Earthquake Alliance. Pay close attention as there will be trivia prizes to be won!

Once at the USS, participants will attend an ending presentation, followed by a walk to the UAC Hall to an Emergency Preparedness Fair! Meet with some of Ucluelet's emergency preparedness resources including BC Earthquake Alliance, BC Rangers, British Columbia Emergency Health Services, Ucluelet Fire Rescue, and more. There will be grab-and-go kits as well as swag up for grabs! Be sure to check out the 'shake table', where participants can build craft houses and then watch them experience an earthquake!

This is a great community event to learn more about tsunami preparedness in our region. We encourage the community to come out and join in the fun! 

 drop cover hold on high ground poster

Twitter @PreparedBC

https://twitter.com/PreparedBC

Facebook @PreparedBC

https://www.facebook.com/PreparedBC

Website

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/education-programs-toolkits/high-ground-hike

RCMP Services

Online Crime Reporting

For immediate police assistance, please call 9-1-1.

The RCMP’s Online Crime Reporting is a platform for the public to report non-emergency crimes to the RCMP. 

Currently, these are the types of non-emergency crimes that can be reported in Ucluelet:

  • Lost Property
  • Theft of Bicycle Under $5,000
  • Theft Under $5,000
  • Theft Under $5,000 from Vehicle
  • Damage/Mischief Under $5,000 to Property
  • Damage/Mischief Under $5,000 to Vehicle
  • Driving Complaints
  • Lost or Stolen Licence Plates or Decals

You cannot use Online Crime Reporting if:

  • There is a witness or suspect (this restriction does not apply to Driving Complaints)
  • There are lost or stolen items involving personal identity, firearms, license plates or decals

This new, efficient way to report less serious crimes provides citizens with the file numbers they may need in circumstances of lost or stolen property and allows RCMP front-line staff to focus on higher-priority issues to ultimately improve response times, which will improve the safety of our community. Meanwhile, it also allows police to capture information about non-emergency crimes that may otherwise go unreported. 

Report Now

For immediate police assistance, please call 9-1-1.

To report a crime through the online tool, you will need to provide:

  • address
  • phone number
  • valid email address

The process typically takes less than 15 minutes to complete. For those who don't have access to a computer or a valid email address, reporting in person is still available.

Click Here to Report a Crime Online

Online reporting is also available through the Ucluelet RCMP detachment's website.

Tsunami Evacuation Plan and Community Assembly Areas

Community Assembly Areas

 Step 1 – DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON during an earthquake

To reduce injury and death during an earthquake, Drop, Cover and Hold On until the shaking stops.

  • DROP where you are, onto your hands and knees. This position protects you from being knocked down and also allows you to stay low and crawl to shelter if nearby.
  • COVER your head and neck with one arm and hand If a sturdy table or desk is nearby, crawl underneath it for shelter If no shelter is nearby, crawl next to an interior wall (away from windows) Stay on your knees; bend over to protect vital organs.
  • HOLD ON until the shaking stops.

Learn more about ShakeOut recommended earthquake safety actions.

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Step 2 – Immediately Evacuate to the Nearest Community Assembly Area (Higher Ground)

  • If a magnitude 9.0 earthquake occurs along the Cascadia fault, the ground will shake for approximately 5 minutes. After the shaking stops, a series of tsunami waves are predicted to reach Ucluelet within 20 minutes. This is why Ucluelet Emergency Network has created the slogan '20 metres in 20 minutes'.
  • The standard safe evacuation level in Ucluelet is 20 m or 66 ft. Run-up or Splash effects can occur around beaches, bays and valleys.
  • If you feel the ground shaking immediately move to higher ground if you are in a low lying area by walking to the nearest Community Assembly Area with your Grab-and-Go Bag.
  • The following locations are Community Assembly Areas and 20 metres (approximately 66 ft.) or more above sea level:
    1. Tugwell Fields - Raven Parking Lot – elevation is approximately 25m/85 ft. Assemble at the Tugwell ball fields along Pacific CrescentUcluelet Secondary School and Associated Fields – elevation is approximately 27m/90 ft. Assemble at the race track
    2. Ucluelet Secondary School Field – elevation is approximately 27m/90 ft. Assemble at the race trackCoast Guard Road High Site Area – elevation is approximately 24m/80 ft. Assemble at the Wild Pacific Trail parking lot along Coast Guard Drive (parking lot in the forest)
    3. Coast Guard Rd - Whale Parking Lot – elevation is approximately 24m/80 ft. Assemble at the Wild Pacific Trail parking lot along Coast Guard Drive (parking lot in the forest)
  • Remain in the Community Assembly Area until District Authorities advise you can leave higher ground and go to the Secondary School for information and assistance or return home. While travelling be aware of hazards such as downed power lines, debris, damaged roadways and unstable buildings.
  • If you are 20 metres above sea level, stay where you are.

Keep In Mind the average speed of a good walk is 3 mph or 5 km/hr, or 1 km in 12 minutes, so walking 500 m uphill might take 15 - 20 minutes if you are carrying things.

Remember - if you feel the ground shaking for approximately 5 minutes, you will have approximately 20 minutes to get to high ground before the first tsunami wave hits the coast. A tsunami may have more than one wave, the first wave may not be the largest and tsunami wave activity may last 24 hours or longer.


Be prepared, view the Prepared BC's Earthquake and Tsunami Guide  and Ucluelet's Earth-Tsunami Brochure.

For more information about Ucluelet's Tsunami Evacuation Plan and Community Assembly Areas please contact Fire Chief Rick Geddes at rgeddes@ucluelet.ca.

 

Emergency Notification

The District of Ucluelet has an emergency notification system to rapidly convey messages to residents and visitors about impending emergency incidents. This system can also be used to provide safety instructions and additional information about an emergency event.

To receive emergency notices via email, text message, and/or voice-to-text message, click on the following link and follow the steps:

Click Here to Sign Up

Tsunami Siren Cedar Road Parking Lot

 

TSUNAMI WARNING SYSTEM MONTHLY TESTING 

Two sets of tsunami warning system speakers have been strategically located to maximize emergency notification to priority areas of town. One speaker is located at the Cedar Rd. parking hub and the other one is at the Amphitrite Point parking lot. This system is designed to warn residents and visitors of an impending tsunami or other significant emergency event.

Monthly testing of the phone notification system and tsunami warning system takes place at noon on the third Wednesday of each month. Public input on the testing is always welcome at info@ucluelet.ca.

 For more information on emergency notification, please contact Fire Chief Rick Geddes at rgeddes@ucluelet.ca.

 

Notice: Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy

Personal information is collected under the authority of section 26(c) the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.  Personal information will only be disclosed in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and will not be used for any purpose other than to contact you in the event of an emergency.

If you have any questions about the collection of this information, contact Joseph Rotenberg, Manager of Corporate Services at jrotenberg@ucluelet.ca

Emergency Preparedness

For more information on preparing for emergencies, community assembly points around Ucluelet and what to pack in your Grab-and-Go bag, please visit our Household Preparedness page.

Emergency Services

Fire and Emergency Services

The Fire and Emergency Services Department provides support and maintains the community emergency management system through mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery for emergencies and disasters.

In 2009, the District of Ucluelet Fire and Emergency Services Department was formalized by bringing the management of the following services together:

  • Ucluelet Fire Rescue,

UVFB

 

 

 

 

  • Ucluelet Emergency Nework, and

UEN

 

 

 

  • Ucluelet Emergency Support Services.

UESS

 

 

 

 

 

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For more information on fire and emergency services, please contact Fire Chief Rick Geddes at rgeddes@ucluelet.ca.