Honestly, given speed, size and weather I don't believe there are too many fingers to point. I know its human nature, but there was no loss of life which was a miracle in itself given the sheer number of people they needed to move in such a short amount of time.
Natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and forest fires are going to become more prevalent. Sure you can blame people on preparedness but its not like they were going to stop this. I argue you have to be prepared and have a plan in place and monitoring to get such a large group of people out of the town in the time that they did. The response should be commended.
Nitpick comment: Tsunamis and earthquakes will not become more prevalent.
Agreed - *tornados, fires, hurricanes, flooding, drought, etc.
Don't back down so easily!
There are some who think climate change increases earthquake activity, with some semi-convincing arguments.
Quote:
During the summer monsoon season, the weight of up to 4 metres of rainfall compresses the crust both vertically and horizontally, stabilising it. When this water disappears in the winter, the effective “rebound” destabilises the region and increases the number of earthquakes that occur.
Climate change could intensify this phenomenon. Climate models project that the intensity of monsoon rainfall in southern Asia will increase in the future as a result of climate change. This could feasibly enhance the winter rebound and cause more seismic events.
The impact of water’s weight on the Earth’s crust goes beyond just precipitation; it extends to glacial ice as well. As the last ice age came to an end roughly 10,000 years ago, the thawing of heavy glacial ice masses caused parts of the Earth’s crust to rebound upwards. This process, called isostatic rebound, is evidenced by raised beaches in Scotland – some of which are up to 45 metres above current sea level.
That’s interesting, I always thought isostatic rebound was measured over long term (thousands of years), didn’t realize there would be measurable movements annually.
That’s interesting, I always thought isostatic rebound was measured over long term (thousands of years), didn’t realize there would be measurable movements annually.
Neat!
Ya, I think I remember reading the small quakes they get on the east coast of NA can often be attribute to IR.
Just watched The National, what an amazing job all the emergency crews did to get every one out of there. Amazing that no one was seriously injured or killed. Some tough images to watch, and the poor mayor who's house was the only one to burn down on his block -- where he had lived since he was 2 yrs old.
Not sure how many people saw it but they’re saying 30% of the structures in the town have been destroyed. All critical infrastructure is safe for now.
Obviously devastating but that sounds better than rumours that the entire town burned to the ground.
__________________
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Not sure how many people saw it but they’re saying 30% of the structures in the town have been destroyed. All critical infrastructure is safe for now.
Obviously devastating but that sounds better than rumours that the entire town burned to the ground.
That’s what I was worried about, I thought the whole town was dusted, including the Jasper Park Lodge. As you say, obviously devastating for those affected and for the town in general, but could’ve been way worse.
The online blame game has been exhausting to follow. I hope there is a public enquiry to make meaningful recommendations, including in areas of shared responsibility, and there is concerted follow-up.
Two B.C. researchers say Jasper National Park is due for a catastrophic forest fire — and they're worried officials aren't doing enough preparation and prevention for it.
Emile Begin and Ken Hodges said a major forest fire in the area is an inevitability.
"It's a matter of when, not if," Begin told CBC's Radio Active.
They've both been foresters for 40 years and have been studying Jasper National Park. They've found multiple issues with the forest that make it susceptible to a fire.
"You have fire suppression that has occurred for many years — therefore, you get a lot of dead fuel that would have been consumed by a natural process," Hodges said. "The mountain pine beetle adds even more fuel to the situation."
Quote:
"We need to get the actions on the ground and reduce that fuel."
But like many researchers looking at potentially catastrophic events, they hope there is no major fire in the area for many years.
"The potential that's out there is actually scary," Hodges said. "Hopefully, we're wrong."
CBC article from 2018. Some predicted this exact event happening if measures weren’t taken. If you are looking to play the blame game, this one is pretty simple.
Won’t bring the lost parts of the town back, but hopefully lessons are learned for the future.
This is more focused on Banff and Canmore, but a good article with Cliff White, who used to manage controlled burns in BNP. He was always pushing for more burns.
Quote:
The failure over decades to properly manage forests to protect the town of Banff doesn’t bode well for the survival of the busy mountain mecca, said Dr. Cliff White, who retired as environmental science manager for Banff National Park in 2009.
“It’s just so primed to burn, you can’t stop it — I don’t think Banff has time . . . Banff and Canmore are equally vulnerable and it’s a matter that we really need to get our heads around,” said White, now an environmental consultant with various projects in Canada’s oldest national park.
CBC article from 2018. Some predicted this exact event happening if measures weren’t taken. If you are looking to play the blame game, this one is pretty simple.
Won’t bring the lost parts of the town back, but hopefully lessons are learned for the future.
I have zero interest in the blame game, that was my point. I want something to spur meaningful action, and if the regular burning of towns doesn’t do it then maybe a public enquire would. Maybe.
With the sloppy forest management and fire response, more towns/communities will be lost (completely or largely) to wildfires. Which will be next - maybe Banff, Waterton or one of many other communities in forested areas? Our government doesn’t seem to care, Smith’s crocodile tears notwithstanding.
This is more focused on Banff and Canmore, but a good article with Cliff White, who used to manage controlled burns in BNP. He was always pushing for more burns.
It's a good point that there are not many evacuation options. Jasper had 2/3 roads closed, Banff really only has 2 directions to flee.
I like how Harvey Locke managed to get in a dig about the two block car free pedestrian zone, and then in the next sentence starts talking about how we need to solve climate change. You know…as long is it doesn’t inconvenience him in any way, of course.
(not that 2 blocks without cars solves anything, but its absolutely a step in the right direction)
I get your point, but it is also a consideration. A permanent conversion would result in a severe limitation on evacuating the other side of the river.
One thing Banff really should do is add an evac route. Their is a trail from the Cave and Basin all the way to the Sunshine road. This could be paved as a bike route to create a loop out to the 1A turnoff. In the case of an emergency, they would then have a paved road to use.
With the sloppy forest management and fire response, more towns/communities will be lost (completely or largely) to wildfires. Which will be next - maybe Banff, Waterton or one of many other communities in forested areas? Our government doesn’t seem to care, Smith’s crocodile tears notwithstanding.
Waterton had a significant burn not too long ago so it is probably relatively safe in the near term. Anything that does start should be smaller and easier to control. Banff and Lake Louise would be the major concern going forward.
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