It never hurts to be prepared, especially as the region is keeping an eye on spring floods and the approaching wildfire season.
A great time to get prepared is this week, May 3 to 9, as its Emergency Preparedness Week in Prince George, the Regional District of Fraser-Fort George (RDFFG) and across the country.
Emergency Preparedness Week is a national event coordinated each year by Public Safety Canada, with a goal of raising community awareness about the need to be ready for the possibility of an emergency.
For Prince George, the city is encouraging residents to make a plan for their homes and to assemble an emergency kit, such as a grab-and-go bag or 72-hour kit, which can be quickly accessed during any emergency.
“Prince George is surrounded by forest and we have the Fraser and Nechako Rivers flowing through our community. This in itself requires us to be knowledgeable and a prepared public is our best resource in the event of an emergency,” says Mayor Lyn Hall.
"Council encourages residents to visit the Emergency Management BC’s website and the City’s emergency planning page, and find out how they can assemble an emergency kit for themselves, their families, and their pets.”
As the B.C. River Forecast Centre is projecting rising river levels in the area over the next few weeks, the city has installed signs at Paddlewheel Park, near Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park, on how to prepare for a flooding event.
The city also encourages all residents to pay attention to river-level forecasts and to be prepared should an emergency alert or order be issued.
In addition, 2017 and 2018 were the worst forest fire years on record in B.C. and saw the evacuation of a number of northern and central-interior communities.
The RDFFG is encouraging residents to be FireSmart.
“Emergency Preparedness Week reminds us to be aware of the risks we are prone to and prepare ourselves and our properties,” says Anita de Dreu, Emergency Services Coordinator for the Regional District.
“Wildfire is one of the biggest risks we face and there are some simple things we can all do to reduce the risk of damage and loss due to wildfire,” de Dreu.
Applying the following FireSmart principles to your property is said to a 'simple and easy weekend project:'
- Clean pine needles and leaves from roof and gutters
- Rake and remove pine needles and dry leaves within a minimum of 1.5 metres (five feet) from your home’s foundation
- Relocate any woodpiles located closer than 10 metres (30 feet) to your home and other structures
- Clear above and below porches, decks, sheds and play structures to remove leaves and pine needles
- Mow your grass to a height of 10 centimetres (four inches) or less
- Relocate items stored under decks and porches to a storage shed, garage, or basement
- Gasoline cans and portable propane tanks should never be stored indoors and should be located away from the home
