05/26/2026
No surprise to any of us, and we still only have one road in and out. I certainly don't have moolah or space for a boat or quad if disaster were to force me from my home.
The province needs to fund a land, sea, and air emergency measures/evacuation plan, especially since infrastructure is lacking and twinning the road and bridge is not on the table.
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"Sooke’s reliance on Highway 14, rapid growth and increasing commuter traffic are key vulnerabilities in a new climate and disaster risk assessment presented to council’s committee of the whole.
Chad Pacholik, of Logic League Consulting, presented the District of Sooke’s Climate Adaptation and Natural Hazard Risk Assessment on May 19.
The assessment says disasters are shaped less by storms, earthquakes or wildfires than by the conditions already in place when they occur. It looks at how climate change, infrastructure, population growth and social conditions affect Sooke’s ability to withstand and recover from emergencies.
Highway 14 is singled out as a major concern.
The report calls it Sooke’s main connection to Victoria and says a single closure could isolate the community. It also warns road disruptions could trigger wider impacts because of the number of residents who commute.
Risk is highest where transportation, health, economic and social pressures overlap, especially for residents least able to recover on their own, the assessment says.
Seniors, low-income residents and people with disabilities are identified as facing disproportionate impacts during emergencies.
Hazards identified in the assessment include earthquakes, tsunamis, wildfires, extreme weather, drought, sea-level rise, coastal flooding, landslides, extreme heat, freezing rain and changes in ocean chemistry.
Earthquakes are ranked as the highest system-wide shock, followed by tsunamis and pandemics. Extra-tropical storms, wildfires, landslides and extreme heat are among the top localized risks.
The report calls for Sooke to shift from planning around individual emergencies to planning around the conditions that make them worse. Strategic directions include reducing inequalities, strengthening local networks, creating backup systems, building community connections before disasters happen and ensuring future development decisions account for climate and disaster risks.
The work is tied to new provincial emergency management requirements.
Under the Emergency and Disaster Management Act, local governments must have risk assessments and other emergency planning documents.
The project was funded through a $150,000 Union of B.C. Municipalities grant, with $120,000 awarded to Logic League Consulting. Future work is expected to include public communication and a disaster risk reduction plan."
