How prepared is your family? Suppose local authorities have just told you to evacuate your home.
Have you pre-designated a pet-friendly location to take your pets as part of your disaster plan?
Does your family have an emergency contact person who lives outside your area?
Does your family disaster plan include two meeting places: one outside of your home in case of a fire and one outside of your neighbourhood in case you can't get home as the result of a disaster or other emergency?
Have you taken first aid or CPR/AED training in the past year?
Does your disaster supplies kit include at least a three-day supply of water and nonperishable food, a battery-powered or crank radio and a first aid kit?
Emergency preparedness should be a family affair. Give every family member specific safety tasks to do in an emergency. For example, designate one person to be in charge of turning off electricity, one to collect the emergency container, one to take charge of any pets, etc.
Plan evacuation drills using two different escape routes from each room. Review your plan every six months and quiz your family about what to do. Conduct fire and emergency evacuation drills on a regular basis with your family. Check food supplies for expiration dates and discard, or replace stored water and food every six months. Read the indicator on your fire extinguisher(s) and follow the manufacturer's instructions to recharge. Test your smoke alarms monthly and change the batteries at least once a year. Replace alarms every ten years.
And don't forget to update your plan, as your family's needs change.
If you are forced to leave your home because of an emergency like a home fire and have no source of assistance, Emergency Support Services (ESS) can provide short-term assistance to Bowen Islanders. This assistance includes food, lodging, clothing, emotional support and family reunification. ESS helps people to re-establish themselves as quickly as possible after a disaster. Emergency Support is available for 72 hours, during which evacuees should immediately plan their next steps by contacting their insurance agents, families and friends, or local non-profit agencies.
Through committed volunteers here on Bowen, the ESS has provided assistance to our community for the past ten years. Amanda Ockeleon is our ESS Director here on Bowen. If you need assistance or would like to be a volunteer, please contact her at 604-312-2168 or [email protected].
The ESS team
