Be prepared for emergency says city

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9) is a national awareness campaign to promote individual and collective action that can help prepare us for a variety of emergencies.

We have had to make a lot of changes during the current public health emergency, so the thought of planning for other emergencies can feel overwhelming.

However, if we take proactive steps to better prepare ourselves, our households and our neighbourhoods together, we can feel better prepared and in control of a situation when an emergency takes place.

“Having an action plan in place can make a big difference in how fast and how well we are able to personally respond to an emergency,” said Sue Saunders, Vernon’s Emergency Program Coordinator. “If each household, business and neighbourhood takes steps to develop an emergency plan, our community as a whole becomes more resilient and able to withstand and recover from difficult situations.”

But how do you start building an emergency plan?

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“An emergency plan is essentially a playbook of the steps you need to take during an event,” said Saunders. “This may look different for people who live in different parts of the city, or are in different types of buildings. That’s why PreparedBC has developed recommendations for how to build plans for a variety of situations and structures, including households, condos, businesses or tourism operations. They’ve also developed tips for seniors, people with a disability, and owners of pets or animals.”

Emergency preparedness plans start with knowing the hazards that are likely to occur in your area and what vulnerabilities may exist.

Based on scientific literature and local data, the City of Vernon’s Emergency Program has ranked spring flooding, wildland urban interface fires and dangerous good spills as the highest concerns within City limits.

However, individual household and business plans can also be informed by your own local knowledge.

“Building a plan and sharing it with those you live or work with are just the first steps in emergency preparedness,” said Saunders. “If you already have a plan in place, consider what next steps you can take this week, such as scanning important documents to a secure, cloud-based server or putting them in a safety deposit box; making care plans for your pets; making a list of sentimental items in your home; or writing down a list of medications, important papers and household reminders and storing it on your fridge or in a safe place where you’ll remember to grab it, if necessary.”

This week, the City is encouraging everyone in Vernon to take steps to better prepare for an emergency situation, and reach out for help where needed.

To learn more about emergency preparedness plans and what other steps you can take this week, visit www.PreparedBC.ca.