Lake Country香蕉视频直播檚 visitor centre faced challenges over the summer, due in part to a lack of regional or provincial emergency strategy that applies to tourists, says a report to be presented to district council.

Visitor centre officials are calling on the region to better co-ordinate and build a plan to prepare for emergencies.

At the centre香蕉视频直播檚 three locations in Lake Country, signs were placed with emergency contact numbers throughout the summer as fires and flooding struck. But there are lingering concerns about staff being properly trained to handle emergency situations as well as how information was delivered to visitors.

香蕉视频直播淭he way the information came to us is that we actively sought it out,香蕉视频直播� said Lake Country Tourism business manager Deb Leroux.

香蕉视频直播淏ut there was this concern that although (the tourism centres) were all working really hard and had the same intention in mind there wasn香蕉视频直播檛 an overall plan, there was no manual for this.香蕉视频直播�

Leroux said there is a 香蕉视频直播済ap香蕉视频直播� in emergency response policies.

In a , which will be presented to council Tuesday night, it said there are no regional or provincial emergency strategies that apply to visitors.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 not a criticism, we didn香蕉视频直播檛 know, the district probably didn香蕉视频直播檛 know香蕉视频直播� it was just none of us were prepared. The most important time for a communication plan is in an emergency and there wasn香蕉视频直播檛 one,香蕉视频直播� said Leroux.

香蕉视频直播淚n the long run, what we like to see is access co-ordinated whether it香蕉视频直播檚 through CORD, or another body, that brings the (Visitor Information Centre) managers at least, if not the whole staff, together each spring to be prepared in advance for what may happen.香蕉视频直播�

Lake Country香蕉视频直播檚 three tourism centres are located in Oyama, outside of the Kangaroo Creek Farm and at events with a mobile unit. The visitor centre香蕉视频直播檚 greatest number of visitors came from the Okanagan and Lower Mainland.

Kelowna city manager Ron Mattiussi was the director of the Emergency Operations Centre last summer.

He said the operations centre communicates with tourists depending on the situation and the centre turns to social media to get the word out to visitors quickly.

香蕉视频直播淎lthough there香蕉视频直播檚 no chapter or anything specific, like animals, like farmers, we have to sort of deal with the problem as it arises,香蕉视频直播� he said.

The hardest areas to deal with in terms of tourists are campgrounds, as the centre relies on the tactical evacuation of the area by the RCMP and fire departments, he said.

However, he doesn香蕉视频直播檛 think there is a need for specific policies addressing tourists, placing the need to react effectively over a planned strategy.

香蕉视频直播淐ould there be problems? Yeah, it香蕉视频直播檚 an emergency, it香蕉视频直播檚 a big event. But I think what we do opposed to having a plan is try to give information as quickly as possible and correct any misinformation,香蕉视频直播� he said.

香蕉视频直播淚 think the important thing is to be able to react rather than anticipate everything that happens.香蕉视频直播�

He suggested for visitor centres to monitor emergency response centres and 香蕉视频直播渢ell us what kind of information they need,香蕉视频直播� as the emergency centre can香蕉视频直播檛 put out specific calls to every individual.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

carli.berry@kelownacapnews.com
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