Navigating Hazards, Risks, and Preparedness in Cowichan
Cowichan Lake
Cowichan Lake: Overview
The “Cowichan Lake” area includes the town of Lake Cowichan, the communities of Youbou, Caycuse, Honeymoon Bay, and the unceded territories of Ts'uubaa-asatx First Nation. It also includes Cowichan Lake, and the forested, mountainous areas surrounding the lake. The lake is used as a water supply source and has a dam. While the area is a hub for tourism and recreation, industries like logging also play a key role in driving the local economy.
Emergency Management Cowichan (EMC) acknowledges that the Cowichan Lake area is where for thousands of years the Ts'uubaa-asatx (Lake Cowichan) People have walked gently on these unceded territories.
About This Tool: You are viewing the Navigating Hazards, Risks, and Preparedness tool. This interactive resource serves to share information from the Cowichan Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability, and Resiliency Assessment. Learn more at the Emergency Management Cowichan’s (EMC) website .
Scroll down for risks affecting this area or use the navigation bar above.
What Risks Do We Face?
The Cowichan Region Hazard, Risk, Vulnerability, and Resiliency Assessment identified priority hazards to focus regional emergency preparedness efforts. Visit the EMC website to learn more.
Within the “Cowichan Lake” area, wildfire , lake, river, and stream flooding , landslides/debris flows , drought , and extreme heat are highlighted for local preparedness efforts, given the lake, river, and valley geography. These factors contribute to risks in relation to isolation, limited resources (such as drinking water) and potential for emergency response and utilities disruption. Other hazards may also be a concern.
Scroll down or use the navigation bar above to explore each hazard, understand the risks your community faces, and consider what you can do for emergency preparedness.
Hazard
Risk
Wildfire
Definition: Wildfires are unplanned fires occurring on forest or range lands.
About this hazard: Wildfire poses risks in the “Cowichan Lake” area due to dense forest combined with steep slopes, the proximity of forested areas to residential areas, and higher risk for drought. Wildfires occurring in the wildland-urban interface (WUI), the transition zone between unoccupied land and human development, can spread to human settlements and cause significant damage.
Climate change is leading to more frequent and intense wildfires, due to increasingly dry and hot weather.
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Wildfires: What are examples of key impacts?
- Housing and property damage or loss.
- Injury or death.
- Business disruption and closures.
Wildfires: Who might be impacted?
- People living in or near by forested areas or areas with dry vegetation.
- People with chronic health conditions or respiratory sensitivities.
- People working as first responders (safety and health).
- People who are unhoused or experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.
- Animal, plant, and ecosystem damage and loss.
Wildfire: What can you do?
- Sign up for Cowichan Alert to be notified if a wildfire or other emergency is happening in your area.
- Visit the EMC website for information on wildfire preparedness and actions to take during a wildfire.
- Review the Cowichan Regional FireSmart Resiliency Program for more details on reducing the risk of wildfire damage.
- Prepare for potential evacuations, and follow instructions if you receive an evacuation alert .
- Follow BC Fire Bans and Restrictions and additional restrictions of your local jurisdiction.
- Keep N95 face masks on hand, purchase a portable air filter, or look into creating your own at home air filter in case of poor air quality.
Lake, River, Stream Flooding
Definition: Lake, river, and stream flooding happens when there is an overflow from a lake, river, or stream onto land in the floodplain that is normally dry.
About this hazard: Lake, river, stream flooding is prevalent Lake Cowichan and streams feeding into the lake along the west side of the lake, increasing risks to homes, transportation routes, and public safety.
With climate change, lake, river, and stream flooding is becoming more frequent and severe, as rainfall intensities increase.
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Lake, River, and Stream Flooding: What are examples of key impacts?
- Property and road damage.
- Loss of community connections.
- Ecosystem damage.
Lake, River, and Stream Flooding: Who might be impacted?
- People living or working directly adjacent to rivers, including First Nations communities, who may experience impacts to their safety, home, place of work or belongings.
- Renters or those without flood insurance.
- Seniors, people with disabilities, and children may need more time and supports when evacuating.
- People who speak languages other than English may have limited access to emergency updates.
Lake, River, and Stream Flooding: What can you do?
- Sign up for Cowichan Alert to be notified of a coastal storm or other emergency happening in your area.
- Visit the EMC website for information on flood preparedness and actions to take during a flood.
- Understand potential flood impacts by assessing whether your place is in a floodplain, and whether you have any flood protection and property flood insurance.
- Move important belongings from the basement or place items up on shelves.
- Create an evacuation plan in case of a flood and develop alternate routes to get to work or school in case of flooded roadways.
Landslide
Definition: Landslides and debris flows occur when rock, debris, or soil moves downslope. Rainfall, earthquakes, wildfires, and human activities can cause landslides.
About this hazard: Landslides and debris flows are a key hazard for the “Cowichan Lake” area due to a combination of natural and human-induced factors. The area has steep slopes, rugged terrain, and seasonal rainfall that can reduce soil stability, as well as recreation and other human activities that can impact the soil.
Climate change increases the risk of landslides and debris flows due to more frequent and severe triggering events, such as heavy rainfall caused by atmospheric rivers, as well as preceding wildfires.
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Landslide/Debris Flow: What are examples of key impacts?
- Utility disruptions.
- Loss of community connections.
- Housing and property damage.
Landslide/Debris Flow: Who might be impacted?
- People who live or work in the path of landslide or debris flow.
- People trying to move about the region and experiencing unsafe driving conditions or obstructed roadways.
- People needing access to health services.
- People without an alternate heat source during a power outage.
Landslide/Debris Flow: What can you do?
- Sign up for Cowichan Alert to be notified of a landslide or other emergency happening in your area.
- Visit the EMC website for information on how to prepare for landslides and actions to take during and after a landslide.
- Understand potential landslide impacts by visiting EMC mapping, and assessing if there are steep areas nearby and if you rely on power lines or roads that are in these susceptible areas.
- Make preparations in case you are cut off from power and road access for some days.
- Leave the area if a landslide happens and watch for subsequent floods and landslides.
- Be mindful of driving or walking conditions as certain areas may be obstructed or unsafe.
Drought
Definition: Drought is a lack of precipitation over an extended period, resulting in a water shortage. It is linked to extreme heat and wildfires and can cause food shortage as well as water service interruption.
About this hazard: Drought is a key hazard in the “South Coastal” area due to limited water supplies such as the Cowichan Lake running low in dry years, the potential demand and impact on tourism, and changing climate conditions. In particular, this is felt during the summer when precipitation is typically lower, and temperatures are higher.
Climate change exacerbates droughts by making them more frequent, longer, and more severe.
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Drought: What are examples of key impacts?
- Impact on water supply.
- Supply chain impacts.
- Damage to forest health, aquatic systems and other ecosystems.
Drought: Who might be impacted?
- Agricultural workers, including farmers and migrant workers.
- Rural communities using personal wells for drinking water.
- Rural communities in forested areas as it increases risk for wildfire.
- Displaced communities due to economic loss.
- Animal, plant, and ecosystem damage and loss.
Drought: What can you do?
- Sign up for Cowichan Alert to be notified of a drought or other emergency happening in your area.
- Visit the EMC website for information on drought preparedness, drought conditions, and actions to take during a drought.
- Inform yourself about current water restrictions and abide by them.
- Reduce water consumption.
- Upgrade equipment and appliances to decrease water consumption, if possible.
Extreme Heat
Definition: Extreme heat occurs when temperatures are significantly above average. Extreme heat warnings are given when daytime temperatures are over 29 °C and overnight temperatures do not fall below 16 °C for at least 48 hours.
About this hazard: Extreme heat is a hazard that poses several risks to the Cowichan region. Vancouver Island’s inland areas in particular can experience prolonged periods of hot and dry weather during the summer and can exacerbate existing drought, air quality, and wildfire risk conditions.
Climate change is bringing longer, more severe heat waves and hotter nights.
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Extreme Heat: What are examples of key impacts?
- Severe health impacts.
- Unsafe temperatures at work (indoor and outdoor).
- Ecosystem damage, including marine mass mortality events.
Extreme Heat: Who might be impacted?
- Seniors, children, and people with disabilities who are more sensitive to heat related illness.
- People without air conditioning or access to cooling centres.
- People with pre-existing conditions or on particular medications.
- People who are unhoused or experiencing mental health or substance use challenges.
- Rural communities where access to emergency services and health care facilities may be more limited.
- Animal, plant, and ecosystem damage and loss.
Extreme Heat: What can you do?
- Sign up for Cowichan Alert to be notified of extreme temperatures or other emergency happening in your area.
- Visit the EMC website for information on extreme heat preparedness and actions to take during an extreme heat event.
- Stay hydrated and try to get to cooler spaces.
- Plan to check on neighbours and relatives who may be vulnerable to heat. If you are vulnerable, plan to connect with someone to let them know how you are coping.
- Purchase an air conditioner or box fan to cool down your home. Invite neighbours who don’t have air conditioning over to cool down.
Building Resilience
The Cowichan region is a region of community resilience. Here are some stories about how residents and organizations are building resilience across the region. These stories may provide useful insights and strategies that could be beneficial in your local area.
Learn More
To learn more about the information presented in this portal, visit:
- Visit the Emergency Management Cowichan website to stay informed.
- Sign up for Cowichan Alert to be notified of emergencies in the region.
- Join a Neighbourhood Preparedness Team to help emergency response on the ground.
- Curious how to bring in this content into the classroom? Add the “Master of Disaster” program to your curriculum.
- Questions? Email general@emcowichan.ca for more information.
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