COQUITLAM, B.C., May 3, 2021 – During Emergency Preparedness Week May 2 to 9, Coquitlam is encouraging residents and businesses to review their emergency plans and kits.
Coquitlam’s top natural hazards are weather-related – such as a severe winter storm, high winds or flooding – as well as landslides and power outages. As part of the City’s emergency preparations, households and businesses are encouraged to be prepared to be self-sufficient for a minimum of 72 hours after an emergency or disaster. This enables responders to attend to critical emergencies and helps the community recover more quickly.
Join the Webinar May 27: What Goes in Your Emergency Kit
The City offers emergency preparedness seminars to help residents and businesses become better prepared for a major emergency. Due to the pandemic, in-person seminars are on hold, but the City’s Emergency Management staff will be hosting a free webinar, “What’s In Our Emergency Kit?”, offering a peek into an emergency grab-and-go kit to educate residents about what goes into a kit and why.
Residents are encouraged to register for the webinar, to be held Thursday, May 27 from 7 – 8 p.m., by visiting www.coquitlam.ca/emergtraining. Limited spaces are available.
Personal Preparedness Basics
Emergencies and disasters can occur at any time. Coquitlam encourages all households to:
- Prepare a personal or family emergency plan to follow when an emergency occurs;
- Have a household emergency kit with basic supplies, such as food and clothing, as well as special needs items, such as medication and glasses;
- Maintain at least a quarter tank of gas in your vehicle at all times; and
- Keep a flashlight and hard-soled shoes next to each family members’ bed to enable easier evacuation in the dark during an emergency.
In the event of an emergency, the City of Coquitlam will provide local updates and instructions. Be prepared by following the City on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and signing up for the City News email list at www.coquitlam.ca/notifyme. Information will also be posted on the City’s website at www.coquitlam.ca.
More City Resources to Help You Get Prepared
The Public Education section at www.coquitlam.ca/preparedness offers a variety of information, including a 26-week plan to emergency preparedness, and sections on business preparedness, earthquake preparedness, emergency planning for people with disabilities, and how to prepare for power outages and winter storms and high winds.
Information about the City’s Disaster Response Plan can also be found on the webpage’s Emergency Planning section. Additional questions about emergency preparedness may be directed to 604-927-3973 or emergencyprogram@coquitlam.ca.
Media contact:
Nicole Kimmitt
Risk and Emergency Manager
Coquitlam Emergency Program
604-927-3087
nkimmitt@coquitlam.ca