With Emergency Preparedness Week upon us, a local fair is set to take place this weekend in Powell River.
Called the Community Emergency Preparedness Fair, it will bring together several organizations and help residents learn and plan ahead for emergencies.
qathet Regional Emergency Program evacuation planning assistant Jessie McDonald says that residents’ own household preparedness is key in the event of an emergency or disaster.
“The first step would be to know your hazards. In the qathet region, wildfires are a concern, winter storms that might blow trees over and knock the power out, and earthquakes too, so knowing our hazards is important as we know what to plan,” says McDonald.
“Making that household plan is another key step, and really looking at what considerations in your household would make you more comfortable and leave or stay in your home without power in a number of days, if it isn’t safe to go somewhere else.”
Along with a meet and greet, and an opportunity to participate in activities, McDonald adds that the fair will have organizations including Powell River fire rescue, Powell River search and rescue, the Red Cross, Salvation Army, radio emergency communications, and RCMP.
“Our emergency and evacuation plan in the qathet region rely on individuals to be prepared, and making connections with organizations and neighbors at the fair to lean on them in tough situations,” says McDonald.
The fair is scheduled for this Saturday over at the Town Centre Mall north parking lot, running from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
