Plan, Prepare, Be Aware: Emergency Preparedness Week returns May 1-7, 2016

Are you and your family prepared for safety in the event of an emergency or natural disaster? Emergency Preparedness Week, a national week-long event designed to help people across the country protect themselves and their families during major emergencies, is happening May 1-7, 2016 with activities taking place throughout Squamish.

“The District is taking a leadership role in preparing for emergencies and encouraging individuals to ensure they have a plan for their own immediate safety should an emergency situation arise,” says District of Squamish Mayor Patricia Heintzman. “Residents should be prepared to take responsibility for their family’s own personal safety and survival during the first 72-hours until help arrives.”

The public is invited to get involved in the following events; hosted in celebration of Emergency Preparedness Week:

• Bicycles and Disasters: Join Rob Johns, bicycle enthusiast, emergency manager and initiator of the City of Victoria 'Tour de Disaster' event, for a presentation about how bicycles were used in disasters such as Superstorm Sandy and the 2011 Japan Tsunami event, and how they could be used here. Thursday, April 28, 7 - 8:30 p.m. at the Squamish Adventure Centre.

• Public Workshop and Evacuation Presentation: Learn to respond to and recover from floods, wildfire, earthquakes and other disasters as well as how to reduce possible damage to your property. Thursday, May 5, 6:30 - 8 p.m. at the Squamish Public Library.

• Emergency Preparedness Fair featuring the Quake Cottage: Residents and visitors are invited to the first Emergency Preparedness Fair on Thursday, May 12 from 12 - 6 p.m. in front of Brennan Park Recreation Centre. The event will include opportunities to ride in the Quake Cottage, a mobile earthquake simulator designed to simulate an 8.0-magnitude earthquake, as well as connect with local emergency services and agencies that work to keep the community of Squamish safe. Emergency kits will be available to purchase with $25 of the proceeds from each kit benefiting the Howe Sound Women’s Centre.

• Pets and Disaster Awareness: Visit your vet or Squamish Animal Control to pick your Pet Disaster Recipe Card and learn how to care for your pet in an emergency or evacuation.

• Recipe for Preparedness Cards: Public Education materials will be available at Municipal Hall, Brennan Park Recreation Centre, the Squamish Public Library, the Squamish Adventure Centre and at the Squamish Farmers’ Market on Saturday, April 30 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Emergency Preparedness Week kicks off a year’s worth of local emergency programming and activities including a fall community evacuation exercise, responder training, as well as the development of new evacuation maps and “quick guides”.

For more information about how to get prepared and get involved visit our website.

April 28, 2016