Residents living in the McKinley Landing area of Kelowna are taking steps to prepare for emergencies.

And the newly updated emergency plan for their area will be explained during a public meeting this Wednesday evening June 19th at the McKinley Landing Fire Hall (Bennett Road) starting at 7:00 pm during the McKinley Landing Residents Association Annual General Meeting.

The Central Okanagan Regional Emergency Program has been working with the Association to update the Neighbourhood Emergency Plan.  250 laminated copies of the two page plan will be distributed to homes throughout the area over the next few weeks.

Regional Emergency Program Coordinator Jason Brolund says, “We’ve worked with other formalized neighbourhood groups and organizations in the past, who’ve taken the initiative to request help from us in crafting an emergency plan for their specific area.  These plans are easy to read and simple to follow so that residents can keep them at home and refer to them in the event of an emergency.”

The plan provides tips on evacuation procedures as well as what residents can do to prepare their families for being self-sustaining for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency.

Like several areas across the region, there is only one road serving the McKinley Landing area.  Brolund says, “McKinley Road being inaccessible wouldn’t necessarily indicate an emergency activation, however, this plan clearly identifies evacuation areas in the community in the event, alternative options are needed.”

Brolund adds, “We’re also working with the residents in the Trader’s Cove neighbourhood in the Central Okanagan West Electoral Area and will soon make their Emergency Plan available.  Other neighbourhood associations that would like to discuss a neighbouhood emergency plan should contact our office at 250-469-8801.”

Even with a Neighbourhood Emergency Plan, all Central Okanagan residents are encouraged to make their own family plan.  Knowing the Risks; Making a Plan and Preparing a Kit are three simple steps families should take.

Organizing your family should also include a visit to the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) website:  cordemergency.ca.  That’s where you can join more than 12 hundred other people who have already subscribed to receive email information updates whenever the EOC is activated in response to any emergency in the Central Okanagan.

A selection of emergency preparedness pamphlets is available at the Regional District of Central Okanagan office (1450 KLO Road in Kelowna) and the main Kelowna Fire Hall (2255 Enterprise Way).

News from © iNFOnews, 2013