Oak Bay Emergency Preparedness offers another of its ever-evolving info sessions at Monterey Recreation Centre on Thursday.
“This is geared toward all citizens of Oak Bay, including business owners,” Eileen Grant, program manager. “The whole purpose is to really talk to people about the importance of being prepared for an emergency. Everybody wants to talk earthquake but there are lots of other emergencies.”
Things evolve along the way, as lessons are learned, and so a refresher can be a good idea. Grant herself learned a few lessons during a recent three-hour power outage where she lives.
“I learned some things, I thought I was fully prepared, there were a couple things I didn’t know,” she said. “The more we talk to people the more we visit places, I was in Christchurch last fall … it comes home to you every time how important it is to be prepared and if you’re prepared you’re that much further ahead in recovering.”
Volunteers share how residents, and those who work in the community on a regular basis, can develop a personal preparedness plan,
put together an evacuation grab-and-go kit, and a kit to be self-sufficient for a minimum of seven days after a major emergency.
“When we first started we said everybody has to come to a reception centre and we’ll register you. We don’t do that anymore. We’re starting to say shelter at home for seven days,” Grant said. “We have four things that we talk about: know the risks, have a plan, have a kit, know your neighbours. That’s the whole premise of our presentation.”
The 90-minute session is Thursday, March 17 at 10 a.m. This session is free but preregistration is required by calling 250-370-7300.
The next evening event by Oak Bay Emergency Preparedness is scheduled for May 3.