An emergency can arise quickly and without warning. Residents should be prepared to be on their own for at least 72 hours in an emergency, be it a power outage, severe storm, flood, earthquake or other emergency. Port Coquitlam’s Emergency Preparedness Program prepares civic employees, residents and businesses for the effects of a disaster or major emergency. The City has trained employees in emergency operations and personal family preparedness, and has obtained a variety of resources to assist the community in the event of an emergency.
Volunteers are at the heart of the program, assisting with key services such as free community safety session courses, Emergency Support Services and more.
This session concentrated on emergency preparedness for seniors. One thing I found really interesting was that if you use blinds you can switch them so the downward direction is facing the windows. In case the windows break during an emergency the glass will fall against the window and not into your room.
The emergency kits are expensive to buy. You can create your own and add a few items each week thereby spreading out the cost. Check out Emergency Management on a Budget for ideas on preparing your emergency kit.
To stay informed during emergencies, sign up to receive City emergency alerts by downloading the free Alertable app. The service keeps subscribers up-to-date with emergency alerts in the case of fires, floods, earthquakes, storms and other hazards. Alerts deliver crucial information and safety instructions to keep you safe.