If there were a large-scale emergency in the community, would you and your family be prepared? Next week is Emergency Preparedness Week, the perfect time to learn the risks and develop your own emergency plan.
Emergency Preparedness Week, which runs May 5 to 11, encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. Use these three simple steps to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies:
• Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare. Golden’s top hazards include flooding, wildfire and transportation events (road/rail).
• Make a plan – Make an emergency plan that says how you and your household will respond to an emergency or disaster situation so you and your family know what to do.
• Get an emergency kit – Build a 72-hour emergency kit and grab-and-go bags for each member of your household. Learn how to build an emergency kit and a grab-and-go bag at www.PreparedBC.ca/emergencykit
It is important to keep up to date on current conditions, like the weather, that might impact you.
“Reliable information is vital during an emergency,” said Kyle Hale, Golden and Area Emergency Program Coordinator. “We encourage residents to stay aware and plan ahead by signing up for Alertable mass notification system. This system improves our ability to get critical and timely information to residents of Golden and Area A during an emergency.”
Residents of Golden and Area A can learn more and sign up for Alertable emergency notifications at www.csrd.bc.ca/alertable. Alertable helps keep yourself and others up-to-date on critical events in Golden and Area A, like fires or floods through your mobile phone, by email or voice call alerts.
It’s important for people to be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in the case of an emergency. This helps make sure emergency services teams can focus on the most vulnerable in the community during an emergency.
“That means having enough food and water to get by without power or tap water, medication if needed and a plan that allows the whole family – including pets – to get to safety if instructed to do so by emergency responders,” said Hale.
In the Golden area, Golden Fire Rescue (GFR), BC Ambulance, Golden and District Search and Rescue (GADSAR), and the Nicholson Fire Department are the first responders. In a large-scale emergency, the local Emergency Management Program is activated to support those organizations.
To learn more about emergency preparedness, join the Town, GFR, BC Ambulance and GADSAR at Spirit Square on May 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. or visit the Prepared BC website for a wealth of information, checklists and even a printable family emergency kit that you can create online. Check your kit twice a year and re-stock as needed.
The Town of Golden works under a joint emergency program between the Town and the Columbia Shuswap Regional District and supports emergencies within the community of Golden and Area A. The program is active year-round and incorporates training scenarios and preparedness exercises to respond to emergencies.
For more information on our local Emergency Management Program and emergency preparedness, visit www.golden.ca/emergencyprogram or contact kyle.hale@goldeneoc.ca.
If you’re interested in more stories like this, check out our local community stories here.
