Emergency Preparedness

For Canadians, emergency preparedness begins at home. The federal and provincial approach to emergency response starts with the individual. An emergency can arise quickly and without warning. "Canadian families should be prepared to sustain themselves without aid for 72 hours in an emergency situation -- be it a power outage, severe storm, flood, earthquake or other emergency." The most important thing you can do to keep yourself and your family safe in the event of an emergency is to prepare, stay calm, and follow instructions from emergency personnel.

Our Plan
Port Coquitlam's Emergency Preparedness Program prepares civic employees, residents, and local businesses for the effects of a disaster or major emergency. Our City has trained its employees in emergency operations and personal family preparedness. Over the past few years, our City has obtained many types of resources to enhance our program.

Port Coquitlam's Emergency Preparedness Program is run in conjunction with a core of community volunteers who offer specialized training to citizens, including personal and family preparedness, fire extinguisher training, first aid awareness, rapid damage assessment, and light urban search and rescue.Our program also involves Emergency Social Services and amateur radio.

Your Plan
In the event of a major emergency, the natural response is to look after yourself, your family, neighbourhood and community. Your best protection, in any situation, is knowing what to do. Learn the steps towards being prepared by signing up for the city's emergency preparedness training courses or start a neighbourhood program in your area.

The following courses are complimentary and should be taken in the order below:

Be Prepared
Review the following list of emergency supplies that you will want to have on hand as part of your Personal Emergency Preparedness Plan.

These items should be packed in a waterproof backpack or soft suitcase and should be kept available to you at all times.

candles (tea lights are good)
cash (quarters & paper money)
duct tape
dust mask
flashlight with spare batteries
food (5-year type as well as granola and energy bars or fruit leathers)
glo sticks (2)
identification
map of area
medications (as well as Tylenol, etc.)
mini first aid kit
out of area contact number
paper and pens
personal hygiene items (soap, toothpaste, deodorant, waterless hand wash, shampoo, toilet paper, Kleenex, etc.)

pocket or Swiss Army knife
portable radio with spare batteries
rain gear (ie. garbage bags, ponchos, etc.)
rope
set of spare clothing
silver foil blankets
spare glasses (if necessary)
sturdy shoes and socks
water (5-year type or bottled)
waterproof matches
whistle on a string
work gloves
cards or games (optional)

For more information on Port Coquitlam's Emergency Preparedness Program, visit one of the Quick Links below or contact:
Port Coquitlam Emergency Preparedness Office
Tel 604.927.5466
Fax 604.927.5406
Email fire@portcoquitlam.ca

Location and Mailing Address
#1 Fire Hall
1725 Broadway Street
Port Coquitlam BC V3C 2A8

Business Hours
8:00 am to 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday (excluding statutory holidays)

Quick Links
Neighbourhood Program
Volunteering
Earthquakes Canada (information provided by the Department of Natural Resources on Earthquakes in Canada)
Provincial Emergency Program (program administered by the Ministry for Public Safety)

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