• Mobility is the key

Emergency services and supplies must move quickly to where the greatest need is... and mobility is the key. Road access from one area to another, from airports and ports, must be kept clear of vehicles and debris.

•   Disaster Response Routes  - for Emergency Vehicles Only During a Disaster

Emergency planners and transportation engineers from all levels of government have cooperated to identify a network of roads that can best move emergency services and supplies to where they are needed. Public awareness and co-operation is necessary to keep these Disaster Response Routes clear, in the interest of saving lives and protecting property following a major earthquake or other disaster.

• Watch for new signs Click here for further information: Industry Canada - Disaster Response Routes

• It could be you

Emergency responders and police forces will control access to Disaster Response Routes in the event of an emergency. Public service announcements on the radio will provide information regarding specific routes and what they are being used for.

Life saving equipment, ambulances, police and supply convoys will need to get through...maybe to help you! You should be prepared to find another route to get to where you want to go.

• First in the World.
  Greater Vancouver is the first place in the world to plan ahead for disaster transportation routes, by posting the signs ahead of time.    

  • A Regional Solution.
    Local governments and key provincial agencies have co-operated to establish a unified network of roads that will allow all emergency services to travel where they are needed. 
  • You need to know.
    Learning to recognize the new highway sign, and learning the Disaster Response Routes in your area, is one important step you can take to get ready for an earthquake or other disaster.

  For more information contact your municipal emergency co-ordinator as listed in the blue pages of your phone book, or visit: http://www.pep.bc.ca/ for emergency planning information on the Provincial Emergency Program's Internet Website.

  The Disaster Response Route Program is a joint undertaking of: The Ministry of Transportation and Highways, Provincial Emergency Program, Greater Vancouver Regional District, and Lower Mainland Municipal Governments.