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Local business community discusses emergency preparedness plan

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The ability of Vancouver’s business community to respond to a natural disaster is the topic at a forum being hosted by the Greater Vancouver Board of Trade today.

Board Chair Iain Black says an economy’s ability to bounce back is key and that needs to be addressed before any disaster hits the region. “Because we saw how in Fort McMurray and in Calgary, we saw the important economic case for preparedness activities,” says Black. “The flooding of the Bow River and the horrible fires in Fort Mac — showed that you devastated an economy and the livelihoods of literally hundreds of thousands of people. And due to some good planning, they were able to put themselves back on their feet.”

The forum brings together experts in the emergency preparedness field both from within Canada and around the world. “Who are experts in how to deal with natural disasters and what that means to the province in terms of the business community, keeping the economy going and sharing the experiences they have gathered from around the world,” says Black.

He adds it’s particularly relevant given the region’s vulnerability to earthquakes.

BC’s Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness Naomi Yamamoto is among the speakers.

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