Emergency Preparedness

In order for residents of Cordova Bay to be prepared for a crisis in the form of a sudden emergency – be it earthquake, tsunami or severe storm – experts say it may be necessary for us to look after ourselves for three days and possibly even as long as one week before professional help may be expected.

The links below will take you to information that will assist you in preparing for an emergency. In addition, the Telus telephone book pages 22 to 29 has useful information.

Here are some of the very necessary points that everyone should make themselves familiar with, these are the bare essentials for emergency planning:

Photocopies of all important documents, i.e. Wills, Insurances, SIN Numbers, driving licenses, etc (but don’t add names with the numbers). Keep them in a couple of different places.
Have a list of SIN numbers in your wallet of spouse/children, your doctor’s phone number, name of pharmacist, house alarm details – and your family should do the same.
Copies of prescriptions in wallet.
ICE (family/friend phone number In Case of Emergency) on cell phone/phone.
All household members should know where the utility shut-offs are.
If you can’t get home, decide on three places to meet up with family members, in case house is in danger zone.
Have a Grab-and-Go bag in the house with the basic items required to survive for at least 72 hours.
Have a duplicate bag in the car.
Hold a briefing with neighbours. Make a meeting point for everyone when an emergency.
Know which neighbours have a generator/barbeque etc.
Keep their phone numbers in your wallet/Grab-and-Go bag.
Get permission from an out-of-province relative/friend to give his/her phone number to your family/friends worldwide, so they have a contact who can let them know what is happening. (Phone lines may be down, your cell may not work – try and use a public phone box to ring your relative/friend with news.)
Keep some quarters handy.
In the house: remove heavy pictures from over bed; put non-skid mats under TV/computers etc; bolt heavy furniture to the wall; put strips of wood in front of books in bookcases.
Know the safe places in the house to go to (i.e. under a table – crouching and holding on).
Know how to get out of the house as quickly as possible. Practise this over and over again.
Have a notice that says “OK” on one side and “HELP” on the other (in red).
Above all, HAVE A PLAN!