You know the drill: See horrifying distress somewhere far away. Worry about catastrophes befalling Vancouver Island. Vow to get prepared.
Do nothing.
With Nepal devastated by an earthquake last weekend, West Coast residents may find themselves paying a bit of attention to emergency preparedness.
If anything close to a 7.8-magnitude earthquake hit Vancouver Island, residents can count on one thing: Self-reliance until help arrives. And the more prepared you are, the easier the wait will be.
Emergency Preparedness Week, which starts Sunday and runs to May 9, highlights steps people can take to maximize their health and safety in case of earthquake, flood, tsunami or weather event or extended power failure.
There are a number of workshops and events being held in Greater Victoria:
Esquimalt
Saturday, May 2, 10 a.m.- noon
Municipal Hall Council Chambers, 1229 Esquimalt Rd.
For information, call 250-412-8500
Oak Bay
Tuesday, May 5, 7 p.m.
Windsor Park Pavilion, 2451 Windsor
Call 250-592-9121 to register.
View Royal
Wednesday, May 6, two sessions: 2-3:30 p.m. and 6:30-8 p.m.
View Royal Council Chambers, 45 View Royal Ave.
For information, call 250-479-7322
Victoria
Wednesday, May 6, 6-9 p.m.
Fairfield Community Association
Garry Oak Room, 1335 Thurlow Rd.
Register at 250-920-3373 or email [email protected].
North Saanich
Saturday, May 9, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Check out the Peninsula Emergency Preparedness Expo at the Panorama Rec Centre, 1885 Forest Park Dr.
For information, call 250-656-1931
Being prepared will help people feel empowered and less anxious in emergencies, yet becoming prepared can feel overwhelming, said René Bernstein of St. John Ambulance. “Because an emergency is unexpected by nature, it is often assumed that it’s not possible to prepare for it,” she said. “This is simply not the case.”
The Saanich Fire Department suggests building an emergency kit by adding one or two items daily during the week. The kit should contain enough non-perishable food, water and medical supplies to last seven days, and should be stored in a dry, heated, easily accessible area.
• Day 1 — Buy four litres of bottled water for each person. Don’t forget pets.
• Day 2 — Set aside canned food (high protein is good), energy bars and dried foods that everyone will eat. Include a manual can opener.
• Day 3 — Make sure you have a flashlight, portable radio and batteries. Wind-up radios and flashlights are ideal.
• Day 4 — Make or buy a first aid kit.
• Day 5 — Collect special items such as prescription medications, infant formula, pet food, and equipment for people with disabilities.
• Day 6 — Extra keys for car and home. Cash in smaller bills, quarters for pay phones, a solar charger for small electrical devices, and candles, matches or lighters.
• Day 7 — Assemble supplies and prepare a family reunification plan and a list of contact people outside the area.
• Day 8 — If you want, add a foil blanket for each person, extra clothes and footwear, toilet paper, garbage bags, safety gloves, a hammer and screwdriver, small camp stove and fuel.
Sound exhaustive?
The City of Victoria suggests a few additional items: camping dishes and cutlery, a telephone list of important numbers, blankets or towels, tarps, notepads and pens, pencils, scissors, hand sanitizer and extra eyeglasses or contact solution and case.
Tubs with wheels or suitcases make good storage cases.
