A just-released report on the impact of last year香蕉视频直播檚 devastating wildfires on the area香蕉视频直播檚 economy paints a grim picture of the effects and makes clear that many area businesses are unaware of, or have not accessed, recovery programs designed to assist them.

The report was prepared for the Thompson-Nicola Regional District to assess the fire香蕉视频直播檚 impacts and what can be done to help businesses recover.

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The report states that the estimated total loss of sales due to wildfires in the study area was more than $21 million. The estimated total lost hours of employment due to wildfires was almost 100,000 hours, resulting in a very conservative estimate of just over $1 million in lost wages. Thirty per cent of respondents indicated that they had to engage in some form of layoffs.

The estimated total direct economic loss due to wildfires to date in the study area was almost $31 million; a number that is expected to grow. Forty-two per cent of businesses anticipate further economic loss in 2018 and beyond because of the 2017 wildfires. Some businesses are estimating, based on past experience, that tourism to the area will drop by 10 to 15 per cent for up to a decade.

香蕉视频直播淭he biggest surprise for all of us was the extent of the economic impact,香蕉视频直播� says Debbie Sell, director of corporate services for the TNRD.

香蕉视频直播淧eople started providing information about their financial losses, but we didn香蕉视频直播檛 anticipate the extent until we saw the analysis.香蕉视频直播�

She adds that the losses were not primarily due to businesses losing infrastructure in the fire.

香蕉视频直播淭he losses came because of road closures, followed by evacuation alerts and orders.香蕉视频直播�

The report found that 457 or the 492 businesses with the TNRD were impacted in some way by the 2017 wildfires. The wildfires happened during the peak season for many businesses, intensifying the financial impact.

Almost half of businesses didn香蕉视频直播檛 reach out for help

香蕉视频直播淎nother interesting piece was the lack of understanding among business owners about what support programs are available,香蕉视频直播� continues Sell. 香蕉视频直播淧rograms were being developed and made available quickly, and one immediate thing we did was communicate out a summary of all the programs we were aware of香蕉视频直播� and sent them to business owners.香蕉视频直播�

The report states that about 19 per cent of businesses indicated that they were aware of aid programs but had not yet applied, and 39.2 per cent of businesses indicated that they had not participated in any support programs.

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Sell says she was surprised to find that even if businesses knew about the programs available, many didn香蕉视频直播檛 apply.

香蕉视频直播淭hey said it wasn香蕉视频直播檛 worth the effort, or that they wanted to leave [the funding] for people who needed it more than they did. Some said the amounts offered barely covered their losses.香蕉视频直播� Other reasons for not applying included being unable to find funding to assist their business to recover; not meeting eligibility requirements of programs; and not having the capacity to complete the applications.

The sheer number of programs from different organizations was also identified as a factor.

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It was also suggested that a translation program or initiative to help English as a second language business owners to participate in recovery would be helpful.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 a conundrum: people don香蕉视频直播檛 know the programs are there, or know but say it香蕉视频直播檚 not worth their time,香蕉视频直播� says Sell. 香蕉视频直播淭he programs aren香蕉视频直播檛 being fully utilized. People should be encouraged right now to access anything available to them. That shows that whatever programs are out there are addressing a need.

Many businesses not ready for disaster

Another discovery was that many businesses were not prepared for an emergency.

香蕉视频直播淧eople know what to take as individuals, but didn香蕉视频直播檛 think to gather together their business documents. Business emergency planning is not being widely done.香蕉视频直播�

The report identified a lack of financial support to help businesses until the next [intake] cycle begins. Loans at zero per cent interest were cited as something that would be helpful to get businesses through what is for many a slow time of year.

Interior tourism needs help, report says

A common response from businesses was that marketing efforts need to be made to bring people back in to the area.

香蕉视频直播淭here香蕉视频直播檚 a sense of urgency to get a different message out as soon as possible; change the information that香蕉视频直播檚 out there, and get the right information out,香蕉视频直播� says Sell. 香蕉视频直播淭ourism groups are seeking and receiving funding to ramp up their efforts to get that message out.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檙e all going through this together. There香蕉视频直播檚 lots of evidence that everyone is trying to support businesses. It was a big event. We don香蕉视频直播檛 want to downplay it, but we don香蕉视频直播檛 want people thinking that it香蕉视频直播檚 not Beautiful British Columbia anymore.香蕉视频直播�

editorial@accjournal.ca
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