Emergency Preparedness

• If you know the address, you can search by property for evacuation alerts/orders on the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations website.
• Evacuations can be a confusing time for individuals as they secure access to shelter, food etc. If you have tried contacting them and have been repeatedly unsuccessful in reaching your relative/friend and are concerned for their safety, please contact the Public Information Line 1-877-569-8490 or 9-1-1.

• Know the Risk - The Okanagan faces numerous threats including flood, wildfire , landslides and severe weather occurrences. Understanding what threat may be faced is important for emergency planning.
• Visit Know The Hazards by PreparedBC to examine your risks.
• Make a plan - An emergency plan is a playbook for how you and your household will respond to disaster; the plan will reduce anxiety and help you keep focus. Plans should consider all people and animals in the household and any special needs as well as potential for sheltering at home emergencies. Visit Make A Plan by PreparedBC for step-by-step information.
• Prepare a Grab and Go Kit - When emergencies happen, you may need to grab this kit and go, or use it to help shelter in place. Gather and organize your emergency supplies now so you're ready when disaster strikes. Remember to consider the unique needs of your household, such as including items for pets or seniors. Visit Build A Household Emergency Kit by PreparedBC.

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• You should prepare your pets for emergency evacuation - that means, prepare a kit for them too! Find out how to Prepare For Your Pets by PreparedBC.
• If you have been evacuated, take your pets with you if you can to where you will be asked to register. You can find out there what further support for pet owners are available. For instance, the Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team is a volunteer organization that is dedicated to the rescue and sheltering of animals and livestock in disaster situations.

• Evacuation is undertaken tactically during times of disaster by emergency personnel, often going door-to-door to ensure residents are aware of the order to evacuate. However, residents are strongly advised to keep themselves informed of emergency response if their properties are on Evacuation Alert or danger ratings are high.

Consider:

• Arranging with two or more family members or friends to keep you in the know
• View/listen to local media coverage
• Establish a personal support network to keep in touch with, ie: neighbours, health care workers, coworkers, etc.

• Evacuation alerts and orders are searchable by property on the Central Okanagan Emergency Operations website.
• Residents and visitors are encouraged to sign up to receive e-notification of updates from www.cordemergency.ca. Sign up here: EOC email updates
• Lake Country residents and visitors are encouraged to follow the District on its Facebook page where updates related to emergencies affecting the community will be shared. Find us on Facebook. 
• Additionally, Lake Country Communications team maintains relationships with media (online, newspaper, radio, television) and shares information rapidly for publication on traditional and social media

Evacuation plans have been prepared for all Lake Country neighbourhoods and are reviewed with emergency responding partners. Emergency responders train throughout the year, running through a variety of scenarios focusing on safe evacuation procedures and have practical experience evacuating residents during times of emergencies.

View the Lake Country Emergency Evacuation Plan zones [PDF/25.9MB] used as a tool for planning response to various emergencies (flood, wildfire, mass evacuation etc.) that could impact our community. These zone maps are provided for information only and are subject to change, depending on the type and location of any emergency.

• Share the message about a local emergency or evacuation. Follow and share official social media messages or e-updates to friends and family who might be looking for more information.
• Consider donating your time. Emergency Support Services, ALERT (Animal Rescue) and other emergency support organizations could be in need of a pair of hands.
• If you have equipment available or specialized expertise, you can reach out to the Emergency Operations Centre if it is activated - contact the Public Information line at 1-877-569-8490 and ask for the Logistics section.

Part of preparing for an emergency is understanding your unique circumstances. If you have a disability, your plan should include support services for yourself in case of evacuation or shelter in place orders. People with disabilities are encouraged to set up a Personal Support Network, a group of at least three people you know and trust and who would help you during an emergency.

Consider:

• Identifying contacts for important locations such as home, work or school. Neighbours are often the closest and most available contacts in an emergency.
• Tell these support people where your emergency kit is stored. Give one member a key to your home.
• Include a support network contact who is far enough away that they are unlikely to be affected by the same emergency.
• Work with your support network to develop a plan that meets your needs.
• Practice your emergency plan with your network. If applicable, show them how your special needs equipment works.

In a small-scale local event, Lake Country residents being evacuated could be asked to register at the Beasley Community Centre (3450 Woodsdale Rd) or George Elliot Secondary School (10241 Bottom Wood Lake Rd). This, however, could change depending on the nature and location of the emergency. Locations of registration centres will be clearly communicated at the time of evacuations through updates from the EOC and shared by the District of Lake Country.

Even if you have a safe place to go to stay with a friend or relative outside the evacuation area, it is important that you register as an evacuee so you can be provided with appropriate supports and up-to-date information as the emergency unfolds.

If you are on an evacuation ALERT or ORDER or if you have been displaced from your home due to emergency AND your local emergency program has instructed you to Self-Register, you can do so online using the Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA) digital platform for Emergency Support Services.

• Evacuation Order: You are at risk. Leave the area immediately.
• Evacuation Alert: Be ready to leave on short notice. If you leave before or during this alert, it's called a voluntary evacuation.
• Evacuation Rescind: All is currently safe and you can return home. Stay tuned for other possible Evacuation Alerts or Orders.

• Technically, if you are of sound mind and body, no one can make you leave your property. But Evacuation Orders are put in place for good reason and failing to leave when asked by officials puts you and others at risk.
• Following evacuation orders when asked helps emergency responders focus on the danger itself rather than the evacuation of those staying behind.

Receiving an Evacuation Order can be an emotional experience. You may be anxious and reluctant to leave your home and community. However, choosing to remain in an area that is under an Evacuation Order puts yourself, your family, and first responders in danger. The risks are:

• Evacuation routes can change or become impassible
• Services, utilities and businesses that you rely on daily may be shut down
• Help may not be able to reach an evacuated area because of a risk to the safety of first responders or access is blocked

In other jurisdictions, fatalities have occurred when people chose to remain behind or waited too long to leave.

Register with the Emergency Support Services centre (ESS), who will work with the local Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team (formerly CDART) to create a plan to get animals and pets out safely.

Depending on the type of emergency incident, arrangements may be made to allow escorted access into your property with an emergency responder for a brief period of time.

• No, not unless utility services must be shut off due to the emergency.
• Utility companies are informed of emergency activations and may choose to limit or shut off service in the event of an emergency activation in an area.

• Support is available for evacuees during an emergency. Typically, support is to meet short term needs - accommodation, food, medicines, etc.
• Occasionally, disaster financial relief is available for people who have experienced loss as a result of disaster. This, if available, will be declared by the provincial government.

Applying FireSmart principles and actions in Lake Country is not a one-time thing. It requires ongoing effort by District staff, citizens, community groups and different levels of government. The District of Lake Country uses the following FireSmart disciplines to help mitigate wildfire threats in our community:

• Education
• Vegetation Management
• Emergency Planning
• Cross-training for firefighters
• Interagency Cooperation
• Legislation & Planning to keep the threat of wildfires top of mind and preventative measures a priority
• Development Considerations for building with fire-resistant materials and access to roads and reliable water sources.

While public safety and protection of buildings and infrastructure are easily recognized as top priorities, there are various perspectives involved in achieving a balance in protecting the environment, maintaining natural habitat areas and undeveloped park spaces with managing vegetation to reduce a wildfire's intensity and slow its spread.

Both the Fire department and the Parks team are continually involved in monitoring the trees and flammable vegetation in Lake Country's urban interface areas. They provide technical knowledge to assist with grant applications for wildfire mitigation projects in our community.

Resource allocation both in funding to contract specialist arborists etc. as well as Parks staff time in regularly scheduled tree pruning and vegetation management to reduce fuels are considered in the annual District of Lake Country budget process and operational work plans.

FireSmart program initiatives to encourage citizens to take action on their own private property in areas of FireSmart landscaping and yard maintenance as well as home renovations to include fire-resistant materials are an important part of the District's public education program.

Learn more at: BC Wildfire Service, FireSmart BC and FireSmart Canada.

Download the FireSmart BC Homeowners Manual and follow the tips and suggested actions you can take at any time of year to reduce the risk of wildfire.

While the chance of zombies a-knockin' on your door is pretty slim, Emergency Management BC does believe that if you're ready for zombies, you're ready for any disaster.

• Tip #1: Make sure your gas tank is always half full. (Video)
• Tip #2: Have emergency kits for your home, office and car. (Video)
• Tip #3: Have a plan! (Video)
• Tip #4: Get an emergency kit. (Video)
• Tip #5: Have an out-of-province contact. (Video)