Preparing for Emergencies the plan for the week as BC observes Emergency Preparation Week

The Province of British Columbia is reminding residents of the province of the need to be prepared for any form of emergency, with this week dedicated to making sure that we have a plan and the resources in place should disaster strike.

Mike Farnworth, the Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General for BC launched the full out information campaign yesterday with a call for British Columbians to think back not too long ago to the recent floods and wildfires as a reminder of the hazards we face on a daily basis.

“The best way to keep safe in the event of an emergency is to ensure your household is ready in advance. PreparedBC has the resources British Columbians need to get started on making plans that will help them cope through the initial stages of any emergency.”

Included in Mr. Farnworth's statement of Monday was an update on how Prepared BC is approaching the theme of getting British Columbians involved, with the provincial agency directing its focus on three key steps:

Know the hazards in your local area

Make a plan to help keep focused and safe during an emergency

Build an emergency kit and assemble grab-and-go bags

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice, who also serves as the Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Preparedness also introduced the week long observance of Emergency Preparedness in the Legislature on Monday afternoon.

It is Emergency Preparedness Week in British Columbia and across this country, a yearly event which reminds us of the importance of preparing our households and communities for the unexpected. Recently, Tofino held a tsunami preparedness exercise, and soon Prince Rupert students will be hiking to high ground with their own event. 

With more emergency preparedness activities happening in communities throughout the province, this week also presents an opportunity for B.C. residents to build personal resiliency in case of emergency — from earthquakes to floods and fires. 

 PreparedBC is getting back to the basics with a focus on helping people identify local hazards, make a plan, build a kit and assemble grab-and-go bags. We know that taking these steps can help alleviate stress and improve response outcomes in the event of an emergency. I encourage everyone to visit PreparedBC on the B.C. government website for more information.

Among the many ways that Emergency Preparedness week is being observed will be a test of the Emergency Alert System across Canada, with a test alert to be sent out tomorrow (Wednesday) at 1:55 PM.

The Alert Ready Broadcast will be delivered through TV, radio and to cellular devices will contain a notice that looks like that below:

Locally the City of Prince Rupert has a listing of local emergency contacts and procedures as well as to offer an opportunity to sign up for the city's own emergency notification system.

Find out more about how to become more prepared for emergency and disaster from the Prepared BC website.

The also offer the results of a survey that determined the level of our preparedness both at work and at home, you can access the survey results here.

For more items of interest from the Legislature see our archive page here.

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