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Emergency Preparedness

Prepare Today for a Safe Tomorrow

Emergencies can happen at any time. Taking three simple steps will ensure you are better prepared to respond effectively to an emergency or disaster. Emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility.

Step 1: KNOW YOUR HAZARDS

Hazards vary depending on where you live. It is important that you are familiar with the ones that are most likely to occur in your area. In the ACRD, regional risks include:

  • Wildfire
  • Earthquake
  • Tsunami
  • Severe weather – heavy rain, high winds, extreme cold, extreme heat
  • Landslides
  • Floods
  • Power Outages
  • Hazardous Material Incidents
  • Pandemic/Public Health Crisis

For more information on emergency hazards, visit: HERE.

Step 2: MAKE AN EMERGENCY PLAN

All residents should have an emergency plan for their personal safety and recovery. Thinking ahead - knowing what to do, where to go and who to contact will reduce stress and help keep you focused and safe. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.

Think about the things you need every day and consider what you would do if you didn't have them.

Use these resources to help develop your plan:

As part of your plan, create a profile for Emergency Support Services (ESS). If you are evacuated during an emergency event, ESS can provide basic supports like accommodation, food, clothing and other temporary supports.

Below are some quick tips:

Develop a communication plan

Make a master contact list of friends, family, neighbours, employees (if any), and make sure everyone has a copy. The list should include at least one out-of-area contact in case local phone and mobile networks are overwhelmed. Ideally, choose someone who lives outside of B.C. and wouldn’t be affected by a major event, such as an earthquake.

Pick a meeting place or a secondary location, such as a community centre, in case you have to leave your current location due to an emergency.

Know where to get information

Know where to get official information using credible sources:

How to turn off utilities

Know how to turn off your main utilities – water, electricity, gas. In certain emergencies, authorities will ask that these be turned off for safety reasons. Write out instructions, if needed, and post somewhere visible.

Important: Don't shut off your natural gas when you receive an Evacuation Order. Your natural gas service may be turned off by your provider as a precautionary measure at the request of emergency officials. If your gas is shut off at the meter, DON’T try to turn it back on. Only a licensed gas contractor can do that safely.

Research insurance options

Whether you rent or own a property, insurance is available to help you rebuild and to replace your belongings after a loss. Your personal belongings are not covered by your strata corporation.

Check with your insurance representative to determine if sewer backup and/or residential flood insurance is available for your property. You can also contact the Insurance Bureau of Canada at 1-844-227-5422 for information regarding home insurance.

Add your insurance information to your emergency plan to ensure it's handy when you need it.

Visit PreparedBC for more information on how to prepare for an emergency. Specific preparedness guides are available for:

  • Apartments or condos
  • Homes
  • Neighbourhoods
  • Older Adults
  • People with a disability
  • Pets and Animals
  • Small Businesses
  • Tourism Operators

Step 3: BUILD AN EMERGENCY KIT & GRAB-AND-GO BAGS

Following a disaster, you may need to:

  • Stay at home with an emergency kit or
  • Leave immediately with a grab-and-go bag

Emergency kit supply list

Having an emergency kit is a great way to get prepared. Put supplies in one or two containers, such as plastic bins or duffel bags. Store them in an area of your home that’s easy to get to, such as a hall closet, spare room, or garage.

  • Non-perishable food: minimum three-day to one-week supply, with a manual can opener
  • Water: four litres per person, per day for drinking and sanitation
  • Phone charger, power bank or inverter
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
  • Battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight
  • Extra batteries
  • First-aid kit and medications
  • Personal toiletries and items, such as an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
  • Copy of your emergency plan
  • Copies of important documents, such as insurance papers and identification
  • Cash in small bills
  • Garbage bags and moist towelettes for personal sanitation
  • Seasonal clothing, sturdy footwear and emergency blanket
  • Dust masks
  • Whistle
  • Help/OK sign: Display the appropriate side outward in your window during a disaster.
  • Pet supplies

In addition to the above supplies, if you live in a remote or rural area, we encourage you to consider:

  • Be prepared to use a secondary heat source, such as woodstove or fireplace
  • Have a generator and fuel

For more information: visit this LINK

Visit Prepared BC, a one-stop-shop for online preparedness information, including:

Evacuation Alert vs Evacuation Order

Evacuation Alert

This is the time to get prepared to leave your home on short notice. Get your grab-and-go bags ready (which should include several days of clothing, toiletries, and medications), your emergency plan, copies of important documents, and important mementos.

Listen to local emergency officials for further information on the situation.

Evacuation Order

Leave the area immediately. Follow the directions of local emergency officials and evacuate using the route(s) they've identified. Do not return home until you've been advised that the Evacuation Order has been rescinded.

Evacuation Rescinded

Once local officials determine the situation is currently safe, the evacuation will be rescinded and you can return home. Continue to stay tuned for other possible evacuation alerts or orders.

What is a Declaration of a State of Local Emergency

Declaring a state of local emergency enables local authorities in the Province of British Columbia to exercise extraordinary emergency powers listed in the Emergency Program Act. The emergency powers are utilized by the local authority to order the evacuation of residents from their homes, prohibit travel, and enter private property when an emergency threatens lives, property, or the environment within the local authority's jurisdiction.

Quick Links to Resources, Guides, and Plans