Emergency Preparedness

Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck

B.C.’s inadequate heat wave supports heightened risks to vulnerable people: report

B.C. reported 569 “heat-related deaths” in the province from June 20 to July 29

Sarah De Francesco, left, Albert Huynh, right, and Leanne Opuyes, back left, cool off in the frigid Lynn Creek water in North Vancouver, B.C., on Monday, June 28, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck
Emergency kit items. (Stock photo)

Majority of British Columbians have poor emergency preparedness: poll

Less than 25 per cent of British Columbians have an emergency kit and plan

Emergency kit items. (Stock photo)
(Black Press Media)

Emergency alert test an ‘accidental re-broadcast’ of last week’s, B.C. says

Province says alert was sent out due to human error

(Black Press Media)
Residents need to be equipped to sustain themselves and their families for about seven days after an emergency. (Black Press Media file photo)

Saanich fire, emergency program share household tips for crisis preparation

Residents encouraged to get ready for Emergency Preparedness Week

Residents need to be equipped to sustain themselves and their families for about seven days after an emergency. (Black Press Media file photo)
Greater Victoria residents are encouraged to build their own emergency kits and store them in an area of their home that’s easy to get to. (Black Press Media file photo)
Greater Victoria residents are encouraged to build their own emergency kits and store them in an area of their home that’s easy to get to. (Black Press Media file photo)
Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)

Earthquake early warning research backs Great BC ShakeOut activities

Public encouraged to host socially distanced earthquake drills Oct. 15 or anytime

Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)
Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)

Great BC ShakeOut takes a COVID-safe approach for 2020

Public encouraged to host socially distanced earthquake drills Oct. 15 or anytime

Offices, schools, homes and more offer protection in the event of an earthquake. The Great BC ShakeOut is slated for Oct. 15, but individuals and socially distanced groups can practice earthquake drills anytime. (Black Press media file photo)
A four-year-old child was injured after falling out of a window in Surrey in September 2019 – one of 14 high-fall incidents in B.C. that year. (Shane MacKichan photos)

Child, 3, falls from window in Burnaby, sparking warning from BC Children’s Hospital

Fasten windows and lock balconies are just a few of the suggested safety measures

A four-year-old child was injured after falling out of a window in Surrey in September 2019 – one of 14 high-fall incidents in B.C. that year. (Shane MacKichan photos)
The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting an earthquake the afternoon of Jan. 24, 2020 was a 4.8 magnitude and 26 kilometres deep. (USGS MAP)

4.8 earthquake shakes Vancouver Island’s west coast

No tsunami expected at this time

The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting an earthquake the afternoon of Jan. 24, 2020 was a 4.8 magnitude and 26 kilometres deep. (USGS MAP)
Residents need to be equipped to sustain themselves for about seven days after an earthquake. (Black Press Media file photo)

City of Victoria offers free emergency preparedness workshops

There will be six workshops between January and March

Residents need to be equipped to sustain themselves for about seven days after an earthquake. (Black Press Media file photo)
Volunteers and their pets gathered at James Bay Community Centre Sunday to simulate a response to a hypothetical 7.0 magnitude earthquake. (Spencer Pickles/Black Press)

More opportunities to learn about emergency preparedness in Saanich

There are three more events happening in Saanich this November

  • Nov 17, 2019
Volunteers and their pets gathered at James Bay Community Centre Sunday to simulate a response to a hypothetical 7.0 magnitude earthquake. (Spencer Pickles/Black Press)
A mock reception site for people affected by emergencies will be set up at the Oaklands Community Centre on Oct. 26. Pictured, a similar centre was set up at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre in Red Deer, AB as part of an emergency planning exercise. (Black Press File Photo)

City of Victoria seeks volunteers to portray evacuees in emergency exercise

Families and individuals will play people who have bee displaced by a major fire

A mock reception site for people affected by emergencies will be set up at the Oaklands Community Centre on Oct. 26. Pictured, a similar centre was set up at the G.H. Dawe Community Centre in Red Deer, AB as part of an emergency planning exercise. (Black Press File Photo)
Hansi Bhagwanani (centre), alongside Octavia Jones-Elliott (left), and Dave Burns are one of many volunteers with the Red Cross, who have been deployed to B.C.’s Interior to help wildfire evacuees. (File photo)
Hansi Bhagwanani (centre), alongside Octavia Jones-Elliott (left), and Dave Burns are one of many volunteers with the Red Cross, who have been deployed to B.C.’s Interior to help wildfire evacuees. (File photo)
Sidney Fire Department hazmat specialist Kevin MacKenzie was selected to take part in a defence exercise. (Nick Murray/News Staff)

Peninsula hazmat techs take part in military-grade emergency simulation

Sidney Fire Department included in multi-agency emergency response exercise

Sidney Fire Department hazmat specialist Kevin MacKenzie was selected to take part in a defence exercise. (Nick Murray/News Staff)
Earthquakes cause various forms of damage, such as these cracks on a highway. Esquimalt residents surveyed by Royal Roads University researchers were found to be not as prepared for a disaster as they could be. Black Press file photo

Room for improvement in Esquimalt when it comes to disaster readiness

Royal Roads researchers found residents aged 40 to 49 are most prepared for a disaster

Earthquakes cause various forms of damage, such as these cracks on a highway. Esquimalt residents surveyed by Royal Roads University researchers were found to be not as prepared for a disaster as they could be. Black Press file photo
Julia Widdowson and Marco Cvitanovic hide under earthquake-proof desks, demonstrating what to do in case of an emergency. (File photo)

Victoria shaking it out with earthquake preparedness

City invites residents to participate in provincewide emergency drill

Julia Widdowson and Marco Cvitanovic hide under earthquake-proof desks, demonstrating what to do in case of an emergency. (File photo)
Tips for Emergency Preparedness Week

Tips for Emergency Preparedness Week

The City of Victoria and the Province of B.C. want residents to plan ahead in case of an emergency.

Tips for Emergency Preparedness Week
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