National Emergency Preparedness Week teaches us how to respond to a disaster
Posted May 3, 2015 8:24 am.
Last Updated May 3, 2015 1:56 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – It’s National Emergency Preparedness Week, with communities all over the Lower Mainland holding events to teach people how to respond in a potential disaster.
You’re being told to be ready for 72 hours without electricity or running water.
Abbotsford fire chief Don Beer says recent disasters like the earthquake in Nepal definitely put the topic in mind for a lot of people. “The reality for us is that we live and breathe this but I recognize that for most of the people it doesn’t come to the forefront unless there is something in the news that brings it to light.”
Chilliwack emergency coordinator Jim MacDonald says you should always have an emergency kit with first aid supplies, matches and food that won’t spoil as well as several days of drinking water available. “I mean we get so used to just turning on the tap and getting pure clean water out of it but in the event of a large scale emergency. Often that is the first thing goes and we really can’t survive without it.”
He adds you also need to make a plan for how you can contact friends and family if phone networks are down.
