1. Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness.
Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness

2. Why do we need to prepare?
Examples of recent severe events
Hurricane Katrina hits New Orleans
Hurricane Katrina made landfall as a Category 3 storm on the morning of August 29, 2006 in southeast Louisiana and at the Louisiana/Mississippi state line
The storm surge caused severe and catastrophic damage along the Gulf coast, devastating the cities of Mobile, Alabama, Waveland and Biloxi/Gulfport in Mississippi, and New Orleans and other towns in Louisiana.
Levees separating Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans were breached by the surge, ultimately flooding 80% of the city and many areas of neighbouring parishes for weeks. Severe wind damage was reported well inland.
At least 1,836 people lost their lives in Hurricane Katrina and in the subsequent floods
The storm is estimated to have been responsible for $81.2 billion in damage, making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history.
It is estimated that the total economic impact in Louisiana and Mississippi may exceed $150 billion
In late January 2006, about 200,000 people were once again living in New Orleans, less than half of the pre-storm population. Additionally, insurance companies have stopped insuring the area because of the high costs from Hurricanes
South Asia Tsunami
The 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake was an undersea earthquake that occurred on December 26, 2004 with an epicentre off the west coast of Sumatra, Indonesia.
At magnitude, it is the second largest earthquake ever recorded on a seismograph. (The Great Chilean Earthquake at Valdivia, approximately 700 kilometres (435 miles) south of Santiago on May 22, 1960 is the largest magnitude earthquake recorded at 9.5 since seismographic monitoring began)
The earthquake triggered a series of devastating tsunamis with waves up to 30 m (100 ft) that spread throughout the Indian Ocean, killing large numbers of people and inundating coastal communities across South and Southeast Asia, including parts of Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, and Thailand.
Almost 230,000 casualties or people reported missing.
The catastrophe is one of the deadliest disasters in modern history
Provincial Emergency Program

3. Floods and fires Incidents in BC
Each year in the spring and fall, river and lake levels are monitored for the possibility of flooding.
And through fire season, at-risk communities prepare for the possibility of threat from interface fire.
Flooding
Storm Surge (February 2006) caused waves to breach the protective works along Boundary Bay in Delta causing flooding and damage to about 80 homes;
The flooding extended six blocks back from the water, as the area behind the dyke is low;
There was major water damage and impact damage from logs/debris, etc. 25 homes evacuated.
Interface Fires
Urban Interface Fires in Kamloops and Kelowna in August 2003
over 50,000 people were evacuated from their homes
340 homes and 10 businesses were lost in the fire

4. Seismic hazards
Tsunamis are rare but serious a threat to parts of coastal BC.
In British Columbia there are two main types of two tsunami threats. The first threat is from tsunamis that are generated out in the Pacific Ocean. These tsunamis could severely impact BC’s outer coastal communities with waves from the north, south or west. The second threat is from tsunamis that are generated in local waters. These local tsunamis can be triggered by earthquakes, landslides and/or underwater slides and can have an impact on other coastal areas of British Columbia.
Earthquakes are common in BC and more than 1,200 are recorded each year across the province.
The coast of BC is considered to be a high-risk earthquake zone. In this region, tectonic plates are moving apart, sliding past one another and colliding. It is the movement of these plates that causes small earthquakes (daily), potentially damaging earthquakes (decades apart), and some of the world’s largest earthquakes (centuries apart).

5. Other hazards Provincial Emergency Program
Other hazards include: backcountry accidents, hazard material spills, disease outbreaks, landslides, debris flows, volcanoes, train derailments, severe weather, drought, industrial accidents, avalanches, terrorism, storm surges etc.
Front line emergency responders including police, fire, ambulance are usually first at site.
Provincial Emergency Program

6. What are the risks in your area?
There are 57 identified hazards throughout the province including fires, floods, hazardous, material spills, severe weather, disease outbreaks, earthquakes, tsunamis and landslides.
Find out about the hazards
in your community.
Know your region.
Know the risks.
Do you know the risks in your area?
Provincial Emergency Program

7. When disaster strikes
Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighbourhood or confine you to your home.
What would you do if basic services, such as water, gas, electricity, or telephones were cut off?
Local officials and relief workers may be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.
Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility.
Governments engage at all levels when disaster strikes—but it is important for people to be personally prepared.
Think about what would you do if basic services, such as water, gas, electricity, or telephones were cut off?
Are you and your family prepared?
Provincial Emergency Program

8. Emergency Management in BC
Emergency management is based on the fundamental principle of escalating response. It is up to the individual to know what to do in an emergency to protect themselves and their family. If individuals are unable to cope, governments respond progressively, as their capabilities and resources are needed.
Emergency Management in BC
If there is an emergency, police, fire or ambulance, along with local and regional
responders, are usually first at site. Most incidents are contained at the site level.
Municipalities and regional districts will activate their emergency plan and set up
a local emergency operations centre to support responders if the situation
escalates and the response requirements become more complex.
Day-to-day, the provincial government is available to respond to calls through an
emergency coordination centre that is staffed 24/7.
The provincial emergency management structure is activated when a BC
community or any significant infrastructure is threatened by an emergency or
disaster where a local authority's may require additional resources.
There will be an increase in the activation level of provincial regional emergency operation
centres and the provincial emergency coordination centre to support local
governments’ emergency operations as required.
Additional assistance is provided by the federal government if the emergency
escalates beyond provincial resource capabilities.
Provincial Emergency Program

9. Local government
In BC, local governments are responsible for preparedness and response to emergencies and disasters in their communities.
As required by law, they maintain emergency plans and an emergency management organization. This is to ensure the safety of citizens if a situation escalates beyond the first responder level.
Their role encompasses risk assessment, mitigation, preparedness, planning, response and recovery.
Find out about your municipal or regional district emergency preparedness and planning through their web site or through the local emergency program coordinator.
Under the Emergency Program Act a local authority is at all times responsible for the direction and control of the local authority's emergency response.
They must prepare local emergency plans to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies and disasters.
A local authority that is a municipal council or the board of a regional district must establish and maintain an emergency management organization to develop and implement emergency plans and other preparedness, response and recovery measures for emergencies and disasters.
Provincial Emergency Program

10. Public safety lifeline volunteers
There are more than 13,000 public safety lifeline volunteers across the province. They do everything from leading ground searches and helping the victims of serious car accidents to coordinating emergency social services providing assistance to people who are displaced during emergencies.
In a typical year, volunteers respond to over 7,000 emergencies province-wide. On average there are almost 1,000 search and rescue responses in B.C. annually.
Find out about becoming a volunteer.
Volunteers – By Program
There are more than 13,000 Provincial Emergency Program volunteers across British Columbia ready to help communities in need.
• Emergency Social Services has 5,500 volunteers.
• Search and Rescue teams include almost 4,700 volunteers.
• Emergency Radio Communications has over 1,500 volunteers.
• Road Rescue has more than 700 volunteers.
• PEP Air includes 600 volunteer spotters, navigators and pilots.
Volunteers in Action
Volunteers operate in five broad program areas:
• PEP Air: conducts air searches and supports ground search and rescue missions;
• Search and Rescue: tracks lost hikers, campers and skiers, and provides them with
necessary emergency support like first aid and transportation;
• Emergency Social Services: provides food, clothing and temporary shelter for
disaster victims;
• Emergency Radio Communications: provides emergency radio services for
remote areas, along with local, regional and provincial emergency links; and
• Road Rescue: provides first aid and other services — like the jaws of life — for
highway accident victims.
About the Volunteers
• Volunteers are available for call-out 24 hours a day, seven days a week, in all kinds
of weather, and often travel great distances to reach areas where they are needed.
• Volunteers come from every walk of life and from
every corner of the province.
• Registered volunteers receive training and are eligible for Worker's Compensation
benefits and are provided with liability insurance.
• The Province provides funds to support basic training of volunteers and covers replacement
costs for equipment lost or damaged while responding to an emergency call-out.
• Every year, the Provincial Emergency Program honours volunteers with a special
awards night.
• You can find out about becoming a volunteer by contacting your regional PEP office. Check the
Provincial Emergency Program web for more information.
Provincial Emergency Program

11. Are you and your family prepared?
Do you have:
A family emergency plan?
A designated meeting place if family members are separated?
Emergency supply kits for your home, car, office?
The ability to survive on your own for at least hours?
An out-of-province contact if family members are separated?
First aid training?
Consideration for special needs or elderly?
Provisions for your pet?
You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours.
If a disaster happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you as they help those in most desperate need.
Provincial Emergency Program

12. Prepare for Shelter-in-Place or Evacuation
SHELTER-IN-PLACE (hazardous materials plume, radioactive release etc.)
Go indoors immediately and stay there.
Close all windows and doors.
Turn off the furnace, air conditioners and exhaust systems.
Stay tuned to local media for instructions from emergency officials.
EVACUATION if an area is unsafe, officials may order residents to evacuate (threat of interface fire, landslides, tsunamis, severe weather, flooding)
Have a ‘grab and go’ emergency kit ready for family and pets.
Prepare to register at designated reception centre if evacuated.
Stay tuned to local media and follow instructions of emergency officials.
Shelter in Place
Chemical, biological, or radiological contaminants may be released accidentally or intentionally into the environment. Should this occur, information will be provided by local authorities and emergency officials through the media on how to protect you and your family.
Shelter-in-place is a precaution aimed to keep you safe while remaining indoors. This action involves selecting a interior room, with no or few windows and taking refuge there. Close and lock all windows, exterior doors, and any other openings to the outside. Turn off all fans, heating and air conditioning systems and close the fireplace damper.
You can use duct tape and plastic sheeting (heavier than food wrap) to seal cracks around the door and any vents into the room. Keep listening to your radio or television until you are told all is safe or you are told to evacuate.
Evacuation
Stages of an Evacuation
Evacuation Alert: A warning is issued about an imminent threat to life and property, and people are asked to be ready to leave on short notice.
Evacuation Order: When the population is determined to be at imminent risk, an evacuation order is issued and people must leave the area immediately.
Evacuation Rescind: An evacuation order or alert is rescinded when it is determined to be safe for residents to return home. An evacuation order may be reinstated if a threat returns.
Reception Centres are set up in order to provide for essential needs of people affected by a disaster. These are sites where evacuees may be received and registered during a disaster. They may be a facility such as a recreation centre, church hall, school, hotel lobby, or even a tent - it depends on what is available in the community or what is needed.
Preparing to Evacuate
You may be asked to prepare to evacuate if a situation has the potential of escalating to the point where public safety is threatened. During this time, authorities will take actions to prepare for an orderly evacuation should it become necessary.
It is important to think about the elderly or those with special needs during the early stages of preparing to evacuate if possible.
Residents should become familiar with designated evacuation routes and know where they will go if ordered to evacuate.
If an Evacuation Alert has been issued:
Gather essential items such as medications, eyeglasses, important papers, immediate care needs for dependants, and valuable keepsakes. Be practical about what to take with you.
Keep track of the location of all family members and determine a planned meeting place should an evacuation be called while separated.
Plan for relocation of large pets and livestock outside of the evacuation alert area.
If an Evacuation Order has been issued:
You MUST LEAVE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY and report to the designated Reception Centre.
At reception centres, short term assistance for essential shelter, food and clothing may be available to those who need it. Reporting to the reception centre facilitates contact by concerned friends or relatives, and in matching separated family members.
If you need transportation to evacuate, advise emergency officials in the area.
Close all doors and windows in your home. Leave gates unlocked and clear driveways for emergency response access. Keep a flashlight and portable radio with you at all times.
Follow the directions of emergency personnel and obey traffic control. Travel may be one-way only out of your area to allow emergency vehicles access. Keep disaster response routes clear for emergency vehicles. Re-admission to the area is not permitted until it is deemed safe and the evacuation order is lifted.
Remember, in office buildings or apartments, the elevator may not work and should not be used.
Ask an out-of-province friend to be your "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's phone number.
Provincial Emergency Program

13. Basic home safety
Make sure that you have adequate home insurance coverage (fire, earthquake)
Repair defective electrical wiring and leaky connections.
Fasten shelves securely and place heavy objects on lower shelves.
Hang pictures and mirrors away from beds.
Secure water heaters.
Consider securing structure to foundation in earthquake-prone areas.
Store flammable products away from heat sources.
Clean and repair chimneys, flue pipes and vents.
Check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers regularly.
Know where utilities shut-off valves are located.
In a disaster, ordinary items in the home can cause injury and damage. Anything that can move, fall, break, or cause a fire is a potential hazard.
Provincial Emergency Program

14. Get everyone involved
Post emergency numbers and know when to call 911.
Show family members how to turn off main utility switches.
Learn about fire safety and how to use the fire extinguisher.
Take a first aid and CPR class.
Everyone should know where emergency kits are stored.
Determine the best escape routes from your home and conduct earthquake drills (drop, cover, hold)
Find the safe places in your home for each type of disaster.
Decide on meeting places and out of-province contacts if family members are separated.
Having a family emergency plan ensures that everyone in the family gets involved in preparing for an emergency.
Family members should know where emergency supply kits are stored, safe areas in the home and escape routes.
It is important to decide on family meeting places and out of province contacts if family members are separated during an emergency.
Provincial Emergency Program

15. Your family emergency plan
Select family meeting places
- easy to remember and identify
- open spaces
- walking distance
Family emergency contact
- someone reliable
- outside of province
Plan emergency exits and know escape routes
Practice evacuation plan and earthquake drills
Take first aid training and plan for special needs or elderly
Develop a plan:
Decide where to meet in the event of an emergency; identify two different locations near and away from your property where your family will meet
Have an out-of-province emergency contact number (preferably a friend/family member) and instruct family members to phone if separated during an emergency.
Practice and train on what to do in an emergency. This includes evacuation procedures and earthquake drills. Ensure you and your children know what to do when an event threatens your family
Get First Aid Training – courses available through Red Cross, St. John Ambulance
Provincial Emergency Program

16. Neighbourhood emergency preparedness
Those who have experienced disasters have witnessed the way in which neighbours naturally come together to help one another.
A team of neighbours with a variety of skills will have a much greater chance of coping following a disaster than will individuals trying to handle an incident on their own.
The Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP) is a neighbourhood team approach to becoming self-reliant following a disaster or emergency. The program teaches individuals and families how to be self sufficient for 72 hours up to a week and teaches neighbours how to plan and train as a team to respond safely and effectively during a disaster.
Get involved with neighbours
When disaster strikes, it may take emergency responders some time to arrive, as they attend to those in most critical need.
Working with neighbours can save lives and property. A team of neighbours with a cross-section of skills will come through a disaster more effectively than an individual trying to cope on their own. This pre-planning will likely speed recovery as well.
Meet with your neighbours to plan how the neighbourhood could work together after a disaster until help arrives. If you're a member of a neighbourhood organization, such as a home association or crime watch group, introduce disaster preparedness as a new activity. Know your neighbours' special skills (e.g., medical, technical) and consider how you could help neighbours who have special needs, such as disabled and elderly persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can't get home
The Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program is designed to help individuals and neighbours prepare to be self sufficient for an extended period of time. It is natural for neighbours to come together and to help one another during times of crisis and there is training available that takes this concept one step further.
Individuals who would like information on existing Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness courses in their area should check their municipal or regional district web site, or contact their local emergency program office. For more information about setting up this program in communities.
Provincial Emergency Program

17. Be prepared for at least 72 hours
Family emergency kit
Be prepared for at least 72 hours
‘Grab and go kit’– home, car, office.
Supply of food and water.
First aid supplies – ie: bandages, prescription medications.
Battery-powered radio, candles, flashlight, batteries.
Important documents and cash – insurance, passports, etc.
Children and pet needs.
At a minimum include the following in your kit:
At least a 3-day supply of water and food that won’t spoil
A first aid kit that in includes your family’s prescription medication.
Emergency tools including a battery-powered radio, flashlight and plenty of extra batteries
Important family documents in a waterproof container. Keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car
One change of clothing and footwear per person, and one foil blanket or sleeping bag per person
What other supplies should be in your kit?
Possible Answers: an extra pair of glasses, special items for infant, elderly or disabled family members, an extra set of car keys and a credit card, cash, sanitation supplies, toiletries, towel, good book;
Provincial Emergency Program

18. You should have emergency supplies for at least 72 hours
Flashlight
Battery Powered Radio
First Aid Kit
Medication
Food and Water
- canned and dehydrated food
- bottled water
- powdered milk
First Aid
Fuel and Light
- matches
- candles
Equipment
- can opener
- dishpan
- dishes (disposable)
Dressings
- adhesive tape
- bandages
Bedding
- sleeping bag/foil blankets
- plastic sheet/tarp
Clothing and shoes
- one change/person
Personal Supplies
- toiletries
- towels
- book, games
Infant needs
Pet needs
Special needs and elderly
Additional Items
- tweezers
- scissors
- thermometer
Personal Documents
Cash
Have enough supplies in your home to meet your family needs for a minimum of three days. Store these supplies in sturdy containers such as back-packs, duffle bags, or covered trash containers.
An emergency food and water supply is stored in a separate part of your house so it is handy when the unexpected happens. Check your supply regularly for expiry dates and replenish it when needed.
Store foods in a cool place away from any direct source of heat. Date the foods when you buy them. If they haven’t been needed for an emergency by their use date, you can use them for your regular meals and replace them. Generally, sealed crackers and cereals should be used within three months. Dried fruit, peanut butter, dry milk, instant coffee and cocoa mix should be used within six months. Canned foods may keep indefinitely,
but it is a good idea to use and replace them within a year.
Place supplies somewhere that they will be easily accessible in the event of an emergency i.e. under a deck, in a closet by the front door, etc.
Assemble ‘grab and go kits’ with easy to carry essential items to take with you if you have to leave on short notice. Basic items include canned and dehydrated food and water, battery powered radio, flashlight, first aid kit, prescription medication, important papers and cash. Consider any special needs of family members, such as the elderly or infants. Also consider pet requirements.
You should have emergency supplies for at least 72 hours
“Grab and go kits”

19. Elderly or persons with disabilities
Establish a personal support network.
Carry an emergency health information card.
Conduct an “ability self-assessment.”
Practice assertiveness skills.
Add additional supplies to emergency kit.
People with disabilities may have other considerations to ensure they are prepared:
Establish a personal support network – identify individuals who will check with you in an emergency to ensure you are OK and give assistance if needed.
Carry an emergency health information card so that rescuers are aware of your disabilities if they find you unconscious or incoherent. Make multiple copies of this card to keep in emergency supply kits, car, work, wallet, wheelchair pack, etc.
Conduct an ‘ability self-assessment’ to evaluate your capabilities ahead of time, limitations and needs during an emergency. Can you operate a fire extinguisher? Will you be able to carry your grab and go kit? Have you moved or secured large objects that might block your escape route?
Communication: practice assertiveness skills – learn to take charge and practice how to quickly explain to people how to move your mobility aids or how to move you safely and rapidly, ie. “take my wheelchair”, “take my insulin from the refrigerator”, etc.
Store disability related supplies in areas you anticipate will be easy to reach after a disaster. If you need to evacuate, take enough supplies for up to two weeks. Do not expect reception centres, group lodging facilities or first aid stations to be able to meet your supply needs. In an emergency supplies may be limited.
Provincial Emergency Program

20. Emergency supplies for pets
Consider packing a "pet survival" kit. Include food, water and medications.
Also include copies of medical records along with a photo of your pet.
You will need a leash, harness and collar and make sure identification tags are up-to-date and securely fastened to your pet's collar.
Remember to prepare for your pets:
Pet food and treats
Drinkable water in plastic bottles
Can opener for canned food
Pet medications and medical records in a waterproof container
Sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or carriers so you can move your pets safely and they can’t escape (remember they may be scared and may act differently than normal
Current photos of your pet in case they get lost
The name and contact information for your veterinarian
If there is room, pet beds and toys
Local emergency program representatives will have more information about pet management during disasters.
Know that emergency housing or hotels may not accept pets, and special arrangements may have to be made with friends or relatives.
Provincial Emergency Program

21. If disaster strikes…first things first
Remain calm and patient. Put your plan into action.
Listen to your battery-powered radio for instructions from emergency officials.
Prepare for further impacts such as aftershocks or other hazards developing.
Check for injuries
Give first aid or get help for seriously injured people.
 Check for damage
Use flashlights. Do not immediately light matches or turn on electrical switches.
If you smell gas or suspect a leak, turn off the main gas valve, open windows, and get everyone outside quickly.
Shut off any other damaged utilities and check for structural damage.
Check for spilled medicines, bleaches, gasoline, and other flammable liquids.
If disaster strikes know what to do first. The most important thing is to remain calm, reassure family members and others.
Look after any injuries. Apply first aid if trained, then do a check for damages. Electricity may be out, but you will want to check for any gas leaks before lighting matches.
Work with your neighbours to make sure everyone is taken care of. Identify people who might need extra help.
Locate your emergency supply kit and phone out-of-province contact.
Always follow the instructions of local emergency officials.
Provincial Emergency Program

22. Practice and maintain your plan
Review emergency planning with family members at least every six months.
Review floor plan of all levels of your home with normal and emergency exits including two from each bedroom.
Conduct fire, earthquake and emergency evacuation drills.
Replace stored water and food in emergency kits as necessary.
Maintain fire extinguishers and know how to use them.
Check smoke alarms on a regular basis.
Help make emergency preparedness a habit. Review and practice your family emergency plan on a regular basis. Check items in your emergency kit for expirty dates. Conduct regular drills for earthquake and evacuations. And make it a habit to check smoke detectors and fire extinguishers on a regular basis.
Practice and maintain your plan by reviewing and quizzing your kids every six months or so. Continue to practice earthquake and evacuation drills.
Provincial Emergency Program

23. 72 Hours—is your family prepared?
Emergency preparedness may seem like a lot of work.
If you do a little at a time, as your budget permits, your family will be well prepared if disaster strikes.
Know the risks, plan ahead and prepare your emergency kit.
Remember, if a disaster happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you as the help those in desperate need.
You and your family should be prepared to take care of yourself for a minimum of 72 hours.
An emergency preparedness guide called “26 weeks to Personal Preparedness” takes you step by step through the process in an easy-to-follow and affordable way.
Check the Provincial Emergency Program website at for detailed information about personal emergency preparedness and emergency management in BC or contact your local government emergency coordinator for more information about emergency management planning in your area.
Provincial Emergency Program

24. Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General
Provincial Emergency Program