Village Vancouver

Vancouver's Leader in Transition toward Strong, Resilient, Complete Communities

Emergency Preparedness

Information

Emergency Preparedness

Personal, neighbourhood and community preparedness .

Examining all aspects of planning/action to make ourselves and communities more resillient to emergencies, be they short (earthquake) or longer term (climate change, peak oil).

Members: 25
Latest Activity: Nov 15, 2017

General information

Disasters, such as a massive earthquake or a severe weather event resulting in lengthy power outage are major events that can strike anywhere and at any time.   In a widespread serious emergency, traditional 911 and First Responder capabilities such as fire, police, medics, and utility personnel may be overwhelmed and unable to immediately assist individuals and families.  People may be on their own for days following the disaster and perhaps longer, depending on the emergency. 

Our local worst case scenario might well be an earthquake, for which there is no warning, and thus no chance to evacuate.  Being well prepared at home and at work, along with being able to know and trust your neighbours, is more than a good idea; it could be life-saving and can give us peace of mind.

While being individually prepared is important, preparing your neighbourhood is also vital!  The YOYO acronym “You're On Your Own” will mean that neighbours will likely be the first ones to offer assistance. Neighbours who are prepared are more effective in their response to an emergency and have an increased capacity to enhance self-sufficiency of those around them in the aftermath of a disaster.

Village Vancouver, starting with the Dunbar Transition Village, is organizing planning and training for individuals, neighbourhoods (small areas of a few blocks at a time) and the wider Dunbar community. Working with the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program, the Dunbar Residents Association, the Dunbar Business Improvement Association and concerned individuals, VV is developing a framework for planning and preparation with the goal to rollout the program to other Transition neighbourhoods. A broad range of issues are being addressed including food security, emergency power management, communication, first aid, etc.

We’re inviting participation from other villages and individuals, with the knowledge that this is a community focused activity.

We’ll be building on some of the excellent work pioneered by the L2020 group in Port Townsend and Methow Valley in Washington USA and the Vancouver NEPP website. The following resources provide a good starting point for becoming more informed:

http://vancouver.ca/emerg/NEPP/

http://www.getemergencyprepared.com/

http://www.wordpress.peakmoment.tv/conversations/?p=418

http://www.mvcommunitypreparedness.org/

Discussion Forum

Hurrican Sandy - lots of lessons to be learned

Started by Ann Pacey. Last reply by Ann Pacey Nov 14, 2012. 2 Replies

The devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy is overwhelming and provides a real life example of how important community response is in reestablishing services to meet basic human needs.There are a…Continue

North Shore Emergency Preparedness Meeting Oct. 24 2012 - great info!

Started by D Sim Oct 25, 2012. 0 Replies

Ann Pacey presented an insightful talk to a local group of North Shore neighbours mainly from Lower Lonsdale, Capilano and Lynn Valley areas last night. Her presentation and the model seems so…Continue

Peak Oil Preparation - What *Else* To Think About

Started by Ross Moster Aug 15, 2012. 0 Replies

Time: August 19, 2012 from 5pm to 8pmLocation: Kitsilano, near beach, RSVP for…Continue

Dunbar Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness (DEEP) articles

Started by Ann Pacey Jul 22, 2012. 0 Replies

Two articles have been published in the Dunbar Residents Association newsletter, explaining the DEEP program. They are attached.…Continue

Comment Wall

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Comment by Ann Pacey on November 15, 2017 at 6:22pm

The Dunbar Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness group is pleased to invite you to our upcoming community discussion on how communities play a key role in improving disaster response and recovery.

Our invited speaker is Carly Benson, the Community Resilience Manager for the City of Vancouver’s Office of Emergency Management. Carly was until recently the Director of Emergency Management for High River, a community of 13,000 people just south of Calgary. High River suffered a devastating flood in 2013 and Carly spent four years developing their emergency management program to rebuild resident, investor, and Council confidence. Carly has been deployed to most of the major disasters in Alberta’s recent history, from the Slave Lake wildfire in 2011 to the High River floods in 2013 and the Fort McMurray Wildfire in 2016.

Carly will share her insights with lessons learned and the importance of a strong and involved community working together to rebuild after a devastating disaster has struck. We encourage you to come and join the conversation. And please share the invitation with your neighbours, colleagues and friends.

Date: November 16, 2017
Time: 6:30 to 7 pm
Place: Dunbar Community Centre, Room 202

Comment by Silvia Di Blasio on November 9, 2017 at 7:05pm

Hi Ann! I havent heard from you for years! I have not been very successful trying to bring this idea to Surrey...people are just not interested. And just today I was watching the Climate Central projections for sea level rise...would love to have a coffee with you one of these days if you are around. Email me at: sil_diblasio@yahoo.ca

Comment by Alice Mac on August 19, 2015 at 4:34pm

Seems life a quiet group.
I have been involved in Emergency Preparedness on a community basis for awhile.
I work with my neighbours and with my union.
This is a workbook that a colleague and I produced.
http://www.kfa.bc.ca/pdf/BePreparedWorkbookKFA_2014.pdf
I am wondering what others are doing on a household or neighbourhood basis to be more prepared.

Alice Mac

Comment by Dana Wilson on December 5, 2012 at 6:52pm

Thanks so much to Jason Mertz for organising and to Ann Pacey for the inspiring-to-action presentation at Main St. Monthly (December) Potluck & Workshop. Here are images from the event: IMG_1551.jpg

Comment by Jael Emberley on November 25, 2012 at 6:43pm

On Nov 22, I hosted a MYN meeting of my block, located between Commercial and Nanaimo, 1st Ave and Hastings Street. We had 9 people, representing 5 households attending. Two long time residents of my block have been fired up by this presentation, and we plan to walk the neighbourhood to invite more people in the spring. Spring is a better time for this kind of meeting.

Comment by Ann Pacey on November 4, 2012 at 9:10am

Earthquake preparedness: A community response

Join us for an evening with Jerry Thompson, author of "Cascadia's Fault:
The Coming Earthquake and Tsunami That Could Devastate North America".
There will be a lecture and panel discussion around neighborhood earthquake preparation.

Learn about the geology of the Cascadia's Fault and how an organized community response can help assist emergency responders, preserve property and save lives!

Time: Wednesday November 7, 2012 from 7pm to 9pm
Location: St. James Community Square (W 10th ave and Truch St.)

For more information please contact: KitsEarthquakePrep@gmail.com
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Comment by Ann Pacey on December 10, 2011 at 10:54am

Dunbar Emergency Preparedness is really moving along. We've got our first coordinating meeting next Tuesday, December 13, at the Dunbar Community Centre to launch the Dunbar Earthquake and Emergency Preparedness (DEEP) program. Block watch captains covering 81 blocks will be convening to initiate a neighbourhood mapping effort and decide on next steps. The meeting is open to all Dunbar residents so come if you're interested.

 

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Interested in getting involved or volunteering with Village Vancouver? check out http://www.villagevancouver.ca/page/volunteering-1.

Regular activities:

Interested in participating in a VV garden? We have collaborative gardens/garden spaces in 5 neighbourhoods. Contact us at gardening@villagevancouver.ca. Gardening now in progress. New gardeners welcome (space allowing).

Kits Village Recycling Depot (Kits Community Centre) Next depot: Thursday, June 15th

Main St. Village monthly gatherings (1st Tuesdays Little Mountain Neighbourhood House) Currently on hold due to COVID

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West End Community Potluck/WE Urban Garden Club (3rd Sundays West End Community Centre, in July and August 4th Thursdays - July 22nd and August 26th.

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