Natural weather events can move fast and put people at risk, and if an emergency response doesn’t happen quickly, the safety of residents can be jeopardized. The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) and Keolis Canada didn’t hesitate to support their community, and their quick teamwork and collaboration with the RCMP recently resulted in a successful evacuation for dozens of local residents. After nearly two days of intense rainfall — with Environment Canada warning of up to 140 mm in 24 hours and regional totals reaching as much as 200 mm over the preceding three days — floodwaters surged across the Comox Valley on January 30, pushing local waterways beyond 100‑year levels and threatening dozens of homes.
As conditions rapidly worsened, the Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), Keolis Canada, and the RCMP mobilized a coordinated emergency response that resulted in the safe evacuation of roughly 30 residents.
By late morning, EmergencyInfoBC had issued multiple flood warnings across Vancouver Island, including Dove Creek near Courtenay — an area that has faced periodic high‑water events but saw water rising faster than usual during this storm. With levels continuing to climb, the CVRD declared a local state of emergency, activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), and issued evacuation orders for the Maple Pool RV Park and several nearby properties.
The situation on the ground quickly became urgent. Some residents were unable to leave on their own, and in one instance, ground Search & Rescue crews were required to reach a woman trapped inside her home due to rising water. With the Maple Pool RV Park hosting between 50 and 100 people, the EOC sought immediate support for safe, large‑scale transportation.
Although formal requests had already been submitted through standard channels, time was of the essence.
“In smaller communities like ours where you know people, it’s sometimes easier just to pick up the phone and ask for help,” said Mike Zbarsky, Manager of Transit and Facilities for the CVRD.
Keolis responded without hesitation. Transit Operator Kirsten Lowery, who had just completed her morning shift, was called back in and immediately transported the first group of residents to Native Sons Hall.
From there, it was a series of calls and texts to coordinate efforts between the CVRD, Keolis and the RCMP. Following that initial evacuation, two buses were dispatched to support evacuations at the RV park. Kirsten Lowery staged at the location under direction of the RCMP and Keolis Service Delivery Manager Michael Graham, and the second bus was parked at the Comox Valley Sports Centre to provide backup if necessary.
“After I arrived on scene and coordinated with RCMP conducting door-to-door sweeps, it was confirmed that only ten residents required evacuation,” said Michael Graham. “The standby bus was released, and as a safety measure, I did a final sweep of the RV park to ensure no residents were left behind before Kirsten transported the evacuees to Native Sons Hall.”
The work continued into the evening, when another request arrived for assistance at Stephen Road and Headquarters Road. Transit Operator Michael Garland volunteered to respond, supported by Supervisor Andrew Edwards, who helped navigate unfamiliar roads. Within 30 minutes of the request, 11 more residents had been safely transported to the evacuation centre.
By day’s end, approximately 30 Comox Valley residents had been evacuated without injury. The local state of emergency was lifted on February 3, allowing the EOC to move into the recovery phase and residents to hopefully return to their homes soon.
For Keolis Canada and CVRD staff, the response showcased the best of inter‑agency collaboration — and the dedication of Operators willing to step in when their community needed them most.
“This was one of those moments where our team didn’t hesitate,” said Michael Graham. “Operators stepped outside their scheduled hours, and everyone worked calmly with RCMP and the CVRD to make sure people were safe. I’m incredibly proud of how our team supported the community when it mattered most.”
BC Transit, which is designated under the Emergency Program Act as the coordinating agency for public transportation during emergencies, routinely partners with operating companies and regional districts during flood and wildfire events. But in this case, the response was as much about relationships as procedures.
“In times like this, you kind of lean on those personal connections and relationships as much as using the proper procedures,” said Mike Zbarsky. “At the end of the day, it’s about keeping people safe and we really appreciate Keolis Canada for their quick and calm response.”
BC Transit is grateful to both the CVRD and Keolis Canada for their strong partnership and unwavering commitment to community safety.
