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Kelowna News

A good time to prepare

FILE PHOTO - Westside Road fire as seen from Clifton Road on July 21, 2015.

The best time to create or revisit your family emergency plan is when there’s no emergency.  

It’s too late when there’s a knock at the door and you’re asked to leave your home.

This is the perfect opportunity to involve every family member in talking about how you’ll handle a potential evacuation. Where are important documents? What special medication will you need?  What will you do with your pets?  How will you communicate or meet should family members be separated? What basic supplies will you require to be self-sustaining for at least 72 hours?

These are a few of the things that will help your family respond to and cope with an emergency.

The good news is it doesn’t take long to prepare or update your family emergency plan. There are plenty of resources available to get you started. You’ll find links through the new look Central Okanagan Emergency Operations website www.cordemergency.ca.  ust click on the Be Prepared image and you’ll be on your way with links to the federal or provincial emergency programs.

There you’ll find information on how to assess potential emergency risks; how to make a plan and prepare a family emergency kit that’s ready to ‘grab and go’ if needed.

For those people who’ve prepared emergency kits, this is a good time of year to make a check of everything inside.  Remember to replace any water, food or special medications that may have expired. And ensure everything you’ll need for your family is in place.

While you’re on the www.cordemergency.ca website, sign up to receive email updates directly from the Emergency Operation Centre, whenever it’s activated.

March is also an opportunity for property owners who might have had issues with flooding in the past, (next to creeks and streams or with lakefront properties) to review and update their plan to prepare and protect their property from potential damage should water levels rise.

The Central Okanagan Emergency Program reminds property owners in flood prone and low-lying areas that they are responsible for having a plan as well as the tools and equipment necessary to protect their properties from possible flood damage.

Local governments and the Province are monitoring water levels and weather conditions in advance of the annual spring runoff. If needed, the BC River Forecast Centre will issue advisories, watches and warnings.

Information and pamphlets on flood preparedness including a recommended method for sandbag diking are available from the Regional District of Central Okanagan office (1450 KLO Road) and the main City of Kelowna fire hall on Enterprise Way as well as on the Prepared BC website.

Later in the spring, stockpiles of sandbags will be available at local fire halls throughout the Central Okanagan.  Property owners are responsible for providing their own sand to fill the bags.

In the event of an emergency and activation of the Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), the latest information will be available online at www.cordemergency.ca and via Facebook and Twitter.

News from © iNFOnews, 2017
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