Disaster Response Plan
The City of Coquitlam is located in one of the most beautiful areas in British Columbia and like all surrounding municipalities our community is vulnerable to emergencies and disasters. These events can occur anywhere and anytime and often result in unpredictable consequences.
Coquitlam takes a coordinated approach to emergency management. This includes planning and preparedness activities that help protect the health, safety and well-being of community members, while supporting effective response and recovery efforts. The Coquitlam Disaster Response Plan (PDF) provides an overview of the City’s emergency management program and response approach.
Public Works Response Plan and Division Operation Centre Guidelines
The Public Works Response Plan and Division Operation Centre Guidelines (PDF) describe how the Public Works Division and its sections (Water, Sewer, Roads, Fleet Operations and the Utility Control Centre) will organize, assess, prioritize and support public works staff responding in the field during a major disaster. This plan provides the information, checklists and forms, required to support the Public Works Division establish a Public Works Division Operation Centre to respond to and begin recovery of an impending or actual disastrous event.
Evacuation Planning
In the event of a major earthquake, severe storm, or wildfire some areas of Coquitlam may require evacuation.
In the highly unlikely event that an extreme earthquake causes failure of the Coquitlam Dam, water from behind the dam would flow into City of Coquitlam and residents in the lower areas along the Coquitlam River would be required to evacuate. Please consult the Coquitlam Dam Emergency Inundation Zone and Road Network Map (PDF) to become familiar with the road network in your area and route to high ground outside the inundation zone.
It is important to note that in 2008 the Coquitlam Dam received significant upgrades and only under an extremely severe earthquake or similar catastrophic event would a dam breach occur. Please refer to the BC Hydro website for more information on dam safety.
Visit the Personal Preparedness page for more information about Evacuation Alerts and Orders.