Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies could come in many sizes and forms (extreme weather, power outage, water crisis, earthquake, fire, food supply disruption, chemical spill, pandemic, terrorist incident, etc.).

Preparedness at the individual, building, and neighborhood levels is worthwhile in any type of emergency. Any such efforts are guaranteed to save lives, reduce emotional stress and injuries, and reduce the financial cost of a disaster.

A number of excellent programs and services already exist, particularly the city’s Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP) of workshops for individuals.

If you’re ready to get started, a basic three-day emergency kit for every member of your family is a good idea. It should include 4 liters of water per person per day, non-perishable food, first-aid supplies (take training too), food for your pets, a battery-operated radio, flashlights with extra batteries, toiletries, clothing, blankets, and medicine. And all family members should know your out-of-area contact person and family meeting place.

How can Vancouver’s downtown peninsula be better prepared?

USEFUL RESOURCES
To register for NEPP workshops and for more information on all of these, please visit:
http://www.vancouver.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/NEPP/

* Provincial Emergency Preparedness Programme (PEP) (British Columbia)(an excellent site, lots of downloads)
http://www.pep.bc.ca<http://www.pep.bc.ca/>

* Don’t Get Burned: An Excellent Article on Fire Safety in Readers Digest
Don’t Get Burned<http://www.readersdigest.ca/mag/2007/10/dont_get_burned.php>

* Take an emergency first aid class
Red Cross<http://www.redcross.ca/>
St John Ambulance<http://www.sja.ca/>

* Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Programme (NEPP) (City of Vancouver)
http://vancouver.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/nepp/

Upcoming NEPP trainings in the West End
http://vancouver.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/nepp/NEPPworkshops.htm

* Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS)
http://vancouver.ca/fire/emerg_prep.html

*Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (Is Your Family Prepared?)
http://getprepared.ca/kit/basic_e.asp

*Disaster Response: Principles of Preparation and Coordination (excellent reading, 1989, out of print but available on line)
“Disaster Response” book by Erik Auf der Heide<http://orgmail2.coe-dmha.org/dr/flash.htm>

FIRE PREPAREDNESS
Did you know that multi-unit and public buildings are required to have a fire safety plan, appoint a Fire Safety Director, Deputy, and Floor Wardens, and to conduct a fire drill each year?
http://www.vancouver.ca/fire/fire_prev/safety_plan.html

EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION
*Sign up for e-mail notice of earthquakes anywhere in the world:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/ens/

* Earthquakes Canada:
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php

* Earthquakes Canada (guides, plans, steps to take, checklists – excellent):
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/gen_info/prepare/index_e.php

FOR BUSINESSES
* Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council (EPICC) (BC)
http://www.epicc.org/

OTHER INFORMATION
* Emergency Preparedness Week (Canada) (2nd week of May every year)
http://www.emergencypreparednessweek.ca/index_e.asp

* Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (Fire Prevention Week, 2nd week of October every year). Great materials here.
http://www.firesafetycouncil.com<http://www.firesafetycouncil.com/>

* Earthquake: Preparing for the Big One (book by Graem Castell)
http://www.earthquakeprep.ca<http://www.earthquakeprep.ca/>

* Families for School Seismic Safety (British Columbia)(making sure the authorities make good on promises to upgrade schools)
http://www.fsssbc.org/

* Emergency management (good background reading)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_preparedness

* Community Emergency Planning, Response, and Recovery
http://www.pep.bc.ca/Community/community.html
(includes business continuity planning)

* San Francisco Office of Emergency Services (excellent site!)
http://www.72hours.org/

SUPPLIERS OF PREPAREDNESS MATERIALS

* Krasicki & Ward (#2-900 West 8 Avenue, Vancouver)
http://www.krasickiandward.com<http://www.krasickiandward.com/>
* Braidner Survival Kits
http://www.preparecenter.com<http://www.preparecenter.com/>

…And don’t forget your local stores, which carry many important supplies!
* West End Hardware (Bidwell and Robson)
* The Little Hardware Co. (1320 Davie Street)
* London Drugs (on Davie Street, and on Robson Street)
* Canadian Tire