WERA’s Emergency Preparedness Program was launched in 2007 to promote preparedness in Vancouver’s downtown peninsula. Its ultimate goal is to create a well-prepared community. We work constructively with all the players at all levels (individual, community, governments) to promote preparedness in all its meanings and to ensure that the community voice gets heard.

Emergencies could come in many sizes and forms (extreme weather, power outage, water crisis, earthquake, fire, food supply disruption, chemical spill, pandemic, terrorist incident, etc.). Preparedness at the individual, building, and neighborhood levels is worthwhile in any type of emergency. Any such efforts are guaranteed to save lives, reduce emotional stress and injuries, and reduce the financial cost of a disaster.

A number of excellent programs and services already exist, particularly the city’s NEPP program of workshops for individuals. But the truth is that much work needs to be done. Our special focus is promoting fire and emergency preparedness for owners and residents of multi-unit residential buildings on the downtown peninsula.

If you’re ready to get started, a basic three-day emergency kit for every member of your family is a good idea. It should include 4 liters of water per person per day, non-perishable food, first-aid supplies (take training too), food for your pets, a battery-operated radio, flashlights with extra batteries, toiletries, clothing, blankets, and medicine. And all family members should know your out-of-area contact person and family meeting place.

Contact: WestEndPrepare[at]shaw.ca

PLEASE: Send in your ideas. How can Vancouver’s downtown peninsula be better prepared? Is this website helpful? How can we improve it? Can you suggest events and activities? What is your building or neighborhood doing that you’d like to tell us about? Do you know of excellent examples of preparedness from any other community in the world?

Want to talk to a local expert? Call Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services ( 604-665-6000, ask for “Public Education”) or Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Programme (604-871-6377).

THANK YOU! To the many people who attended the 25 May 2008, presentation on Emergency Prep & Fire Safety for High Rise Apartments (by Lt Michael Smith, VFRS), at the Coal Harbour Community Centre. It was organized by WERA and the Coal Harbour Residents Association, with kind support/cooperation from the City of Vancouver (VFRS and NEPP) and the West End Community Centre Association. Stay tuned for future plans.

UPCOMING EVENTS
Offered by the City of Vancouver, Neighborhood Emergency Preparedness Programme
Sep 24, 2009, 7:00 PM,
NEPP Workshop #2: Emergency Preparedness for you and your pet.
Coal Harbour Community Centre – 480 Broughton Street

Oct 20, 2009, 7:00 PM
NEPP Workshop #1: Personal Emergency Preparedness
West End Community Centre – 870 Denman Street

Nov 05, 2009, 7:00 PM
NEPP Workshop #2: Emergency Preparedness for you and your pet
Roundhouse Community Centre – 181 Roundhouse Mews

To register and for more information on all of these, please visit:

http://www.vancouver.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/NEPP/

SELECTED LINKS
PREPAREDNESS: TOP PICKS
* Provincial Emergency Preparedness Programme (PEP) (British Columbia)(an excellent site, lots of downloads)
www.pep.bc.ca

* Don’t Get Burned: An Excellent Article on Fire Safety in Readers Digest
Don’t Get Burned

* Take an emergency first aid class
Red Cross
St John Ambulance

* Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Programme (NEPP) (City of Vancouver)
http://vancouver.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/nepp/
Upcoming NEPP trainings in the West End
http://vancouver.ca/corpsvcs/emerg/nepp/NEPPworkshops.htm

* Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services (VFRS)
http://vancouver.ca/fire/emerg_prep.html

*Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada (Is Your Family Prepared?)
http://getprepared.ca/kit/basic_e.asp

*Disaster Response: Principles of Preparation and Coordination (excellent reading, 1989, out of print but available on line)
“Disaster Response” book by Erik Auf der Heide

FIRE PREPAREDNESS
Did you know that multi-unit and public buildings are required to have a fire safety plan, appoint a Fire Safety Director, Deputy, and Floor Wardens, and to conduct a fire drill each year?
http://www.vancouver.ca/fire/fire_prev/safety_plan.html

EARTHQUAKE INFORMATION
*Sign up for e-mail notice of earthquakes anywhere in the world:
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/eqcenter/ens/

* Earthquakes Canada:
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/index_e.php

* Earthquakes Canada (guides, plans, steps to take, checklists – excellent):
http://earthquakescanada.nrcan.gc.ca/gen_info/prepare/index_e.php

FOR BUSINESSES
* Emergency Preparedness for Industry and Commerce Council (EPICC) (BC)
http://www.epicc.org/

OTHER INFORMATION
* Emergency Preparedness Week (Canada) (2nd week of May every year)
http://www.emergencypreparednessweek.ca/index_e.asp

* Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council (Fire Prevention Week, 2nd week of October every year). Great materials here.
www.firesafetycouncil.com

* Earthquake: Preparing for the Big One (book by Graem Castell)
www.earthquakeprep.ca

* Families for School Seismic Safety (British Columbia)(making sure the authorities make good on promises to upgrade schools)
http://www.fsssbc.org/

* Emergency management (good background reading)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emergency_preparedness

* Community Emergency Planning, Response, and Recovery
http://www.pep.bc.ca/Community/community.html
(includes business continuity planning)

* San Francisco Office of Emergency Services (excellent site!)
http://www.72hours.org/

SUPPLIERS OF PREPAREDNESS MATERIALS
* Krasicki & Ward (#2-900 West 8 Avenue, Vancouver)
www.krasickiandward.com
* Braidner Survival Kits
www.preparecenter.com
…And don’t forget your local stores, which carry many important supplies!
* West End Hardware (Bidwell and Robson)
* The Little Hardware Co. (1320 Davie Street)
* London Drugs (on Davie Street, and on Robson Street)
* Canadian Tire