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While Edmonton has its own disaster planning centre (that was in full operation during the Fort McMurray fires), CADEM could also serve as a drop-in “hot spot” for disasters both here and abroad.

While we think of a disaster centre as a hub of flashing lights and sirens, what real disasters require is data. Where is the problem, and what roads lead in and out of it? What are the physical and emotional needs of people living nearby?

“We focus heavily on the preparedness pillar of emergency management in looking at training, plan development, testing plans and doing pre-disaster coordination. So you know who you need to partner with and have met them already before a disaster happens.”

A member of the Canadian military from 2004 to 2017, Bowen (who has a master’s degree in disaster and emergency management from York University) was the military liaison for the province during the Fort McMurray fire, which saw 80,000 people evacuated from northern Alberta. He has served Canadians in numerous other disaster situations, such as the Red River flood in 2011, and the High River flood in 2013.

“It’s incredibly humbling to serve and protect Canadians at home when they need it most,” said Bowen.

It’s easy to feel panicky listening to him talk about the inevitable drama of an evacuation (such as babies born in cars along the roadside as their parents fled the Fort McMurray fire), or what happens when a noxious plume is created by an industrial fire. But Bowen doesn’t feel panic in an emergency. What he feels is humbled.

“When we were reinforcing the dike system and sandbagging homes in 2011, members of the community came to us and said, ‘We want to thank you for everything you have done for us.’ And they brought us food and water as a way of saying thank you for taking care of our neighbours.

“Seeing people who have lost or potentially could lose everything come out and say thank you — it’s overwhelming. But that’s a recurring thing. Strangers help strangers and that’s what needs to be done, and it’s part of the beauty of Canada.”

lfaulder@postmedia.com