Since yesterday, UBC-Okanagan and much of the Kelowna area have been under evacuation orders due to encroaching wildfires. While the full scale of damage is not yet known, the Disaster Resilience Research Network (DRRN) is following the situation and hopeful that the efforts of firefighters will contain the fires and limit the destruction.
Our thoughts are with our colleagues at UBC-O and all those experiencing displacement and loss during the Central Okanagan wildfires. As a network of colleagues dedicated to studying disasters and reducing disaster risk, our first responsibility is an ethic of care for those experiencing a disaster firsthand. In the coming days, members are encouraged to assist in whatever ways you can. Some suggestions include:
- Donate to:
- Central Okanagan Food Bank Wildfire Relief Fund: https://cofoodbank.com/donate/
- BC SPCA Wildfire Relief: https://spca.bc.ca/news/thompson-okanagan-wildfires-emergency-support
- Canadian Red Cross 2023 Wildfire fund: https://donate.redcross.ca/page/131920/donate/1 - Sign up to volunteer with BC’s Provincial Emergency Support Services (ESS), which is providing emergency shelter, clothing, food, and other assistance to those displaced by the fires. You may not be trained in time to assist in this emergency, but your help will be invaluable for future events.
- Offer shelter and meals to friends and colleagues who have been evacuated.
For additional information on the Central Okanagan wildfire situation, please see the statement of support compiled by UBC-O administration, which includes links for the latest updates about the fires and support resources for those affected:
Read the UBC-O statement of support
Photo by Joanne Francis on Unsplash