This is Emergency Preparedness Week and an excellent opportunity to ensure you’re ready for an emergency.
“The time to prepare for an emergency is now and to make sure you have a plan to safely evacuate you and family in the event the need arises,” says Brittany Seibert, the City’s emergency program co-ordinator. “Having a go-bag ready, knowing what escape route you might take and ensuring you have all the appropriate insurance will help ease the stress during an emergency.”
This is a national awareness campaign undertaken by provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, in concert with Public Safety Canada and partners. Canadians are encouraged to take three simple steps to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies:
- Know the risks – knowing the risks that are specific to Penticton (e.g. wildfire) can help residents be prepared in the event of a power outage or evacuation.
- Make a plan – having a plan prepared for you and your family will save you time if you need to act quickly during an emergency. Learn how to develop a family emergency plan at getprepared.ca
- Get an emergency kit – be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours during an emergency event. To help ensure your kit is easy to carry, think about the members of your family, including pets, when you purchase one or put one together.
Canada's National Public Alerting System (NPAS) is running tests on television, radio and compatible wireless devices today as part of Emergency Preparedness Week. In British Columbia, the alert is scheduled for 10:55 a.m.
Sign up for emergency alerts by email or text from the City at Penticton.ca/updates