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Penticton News

Acting mayor urges residents to build emergency kits

A few dozen Penticton residents experienced brief but damaging flood conditions last week. Acting mayor Garry Litke urges residents to build emergency preparedness kits.

Emergency preparedness kits can spare a lot of grief especially when on the road or in a home without power or running water.

Acting mayor Garry Litke reminded Penticton residents to keep a kit that can last them for 72 hours. "Emergencies can take an incredible toll on families."

Penticton residents had a small taste of the flooding in Alberta last week. Homes on Arnott Place and Wilson Street suffered major or minor damage after a massive rainfall and flood waters took hours to trickle into overwhelmed storm drains.

Litke said everyone hopes large emergencies don't happen. "And yet, our history with wildland fires serves as a reminder that it could. We should remember that resilient communities are those that are prepared, and it is incumbent upon all of us to be ready.”

While emergencies might be difficult to plan for citizens should still stock up. This will leave first responders such as firefighters to focus on those in more urgent need. Three days worth of food and water are essential as well as batteries for flashlights. Kits should be located in a central location like a front hall closet, and also should be easy to carry – in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels.

If there are many people in the household, an emergency kit could get heavy. Residents should separate these supplies into different bags. There should be an emergency kit for vehicles as well.

There are plenty of online resources that help families develop an emergency plan, as well as checklist items for emergency preparedness kits. Visit www.getprepared.gc.ca and Emergency Management B.C.’s website at www.embc.gov.bc.ca for information.

To contact a reporter for this story, to send tips, photos or videos, email Shannon Quesnel at squesnel@infotelnews.ca, call 250-488-3065 or tweet @shannonquesnel1 

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