2. In the 2016 FortMcMurray evacuation, #Edmonton was one of the sites for evacuees to find shelter, including overnight sleeping, food and water, etc. Edmonton has again served in this way for many northern #Alberta residents in subsequent #wildfire #emergencies

3. For the most part, wildfire has made access to Edmonton impossible for the 2024 Jasper evacuees, with them being directed westward to #Valemont, #BC.

#ABfire
#BCfire
#EvacuationOrder

2/x

4. At Valemont #BC, a reception centre supplied shelter to those it could. However, the entire population of a major #NationalPark town and all its visitors is relatively huge.

5. Many evacuees were then directed back to #Alberta to the cities of #GrandPrairie #yqu and #Calgary #yyc. These are long journeys following mountain highways.

3/x

#BCfire
#ABfire
#evacuees
#Canada

6. Many other small communites along the way have done what they could, their communities opening what facilities and sharing what supplies they could.

7. Many #Jasper #evacuees were also sent further into #BC to the city of #Kamloops #yka. However, due to BC having many of its own #wildfires, there is no room to absorb/support these folks. They are now being redicted to #Calgary #yyc, another ~7 hrs drive west.

4/x

#BCfire
#ABfire
#wildfires
#egress
#shelter

8. According to folks local to #Jasper #AB and #Kamloops #yka #BC (via social media) and news, there is no additional capacity in Kamloops, due to #wildfires and various evacuations in BC communities.

Jasper evacuees are being told to head to #Calgary #yyc, another ~7 hours drive among admittedly gorgeous scenery but yet more mountainous highways when they may have had NO SLEEP since Monday night.

5/x

#BCfire
#ABfire
#evacuation
#egress
#emergency

9. This is where differences from the 2016 #FortMcMurray #ymm #EvacuationOrder are becoming more evident: #Jasper #AB, unlike Fort Mac, is chock-full of tourists. Many of whom do not speak English or do not know it well.

In all the chaos and confusion of fleeing #wildfires, imagine having to do so when you can't clearly understand directions, or explanations, or other information critical to your safety. 😱

#language
#translation
#accessibility
#emergency
#ABfire
#BCfire

6/x

10. International tourists might also have no familiarity with the local or larger geography of not only #Jasper #AB, but also #BC.

Will they have access to reliable, functional maps during the #emergency? Will their mapping software work if they hit an area with low or damaged cellphone infrastructure?

#EmergencyPlanning
#tourism
#travel
#wildfires
#communication
#mapping
#EmergencyResources

7/x

11. Do tourists know about or have access to apps such as the AEA, Alberta Emergency Alert App?

After the AEA stopped pushing updates about the #Jasper #AB #EvacuationOrder, people were directed to Jasper's #Facebook page.

I'm Albertan and have not used FB. Is it reasonable that during an emergency, evacuees need to make accounts and navigate unfamiliar, general-purpose apps just to find out how to stay alive?

#EmergencyPlanning
#apps
#ABfire
#BCfire
#apps
#safety

8/x

12. The tourism aspect of the 2024 #Jasper #AB #EvacuationOrder brings to light many issues around #wildfire safety and survival I had not previously considered during the 2016 #FortMcMurray #ymm wildfire.

I'm just a regular person, not an emergency planner. I expect most folks enjoying a holiday--whether local or from distant lands--are likewise not especially knowledgeable about navigating a large-scale emergency.

#ABfire
#BCfire

9/x

Are those who are responsible for #EmergencyPlanning and #EvacuationOrders taking these issues into consideration? Do offline (print) materials exist? Multi-lingual translation of emergency information?

And this is not even to mention another group of folks that might be local or visiting: #ActuallyDisabled people. Are basic #accessibility features such as ramps available in evacuation centres? Emergency Rx or medical equipment support?

10/x

#ABfire
#BCfire