Are you prepared

In your day-to-day living, disasters may seem like a distant possibility. Yet natural disasters such as extreme heat, wildfires, floods, landslides; technological or environmental accidents, such as chemical spills; or service disruptions, such as power failures or severe storms, can strike any community at any time. If you're unprepared for a disaster, it can shatter your life.

The best time to prepare for an emergency is when there isn't one. Emergencies of any size can happen anytime or anywhere.

Expect the unexpected and plan for it. Knowing what to do when a disaster strikes will help you better control the situation and be in a position to recover more quickly. While the region has an emergency plan, no community is equipped to handle all the demands of a catastrophe. Help your community by preparing yourself. Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do before, during and after an emergency.

Central Okanagan Emergency Operation Centre

We have a website that provides updated information when an Emergency Operation Centre is activated in response to any emergency in the Central Okanagan area.

Central Okanagan emergency operations – latest updates

Make an emergency plan

The Government of Canada and Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada encourage residents to create their very own emergency plan. Their website can help you create an emergency plan in 8 steps, after which you can print to keep on-hand.

Create your own emergency plan

Create a “grab and go” kit

Are you ready to leave your home on a moment's notice? Create your own “grab and go” kit with this checklist.

Plan for children

Government of Canada: emergency preparedness for children

Plan for people with special needs

Government of Canada: emergency preparedness guide for people with disabilities/special needs

Plan for your pet or farm animals

Pandemic information

Power or electricity outages

Fire preparedness and protection

Flood preparedness and protection

Disaster recovery and financial assistance information

Heat warnings and emergencies

During the summer months in the Okanagan, it's not unusual to have hot temperatures. With elevated temperatures, the risk of heat-related illness increases.

Extended periods of hot weather may result in:

Heat warning - This means daytime and overnight temperatures are higher than usual, but they are not getting hotter every day. Take the usual steps to stay cool.
Extreme heat emergency - Daytime and overnight temperatures are higher than usual, and they are getting hotter every day. Activate your emergency plan.

All Central Okanagan residents should consider preparing for hot weather as part of their family emergency planning.

Preparing for hot weather

If you have air conditioning at home, make sure it is in good working order.
If you do not have air conditioning at home:
Find somewhere you can cool off on hot days. Consider places in your community to spend time indoors such as libraries, community centres, movie theatres or malls. Also, as temperatures may be hotter inside than outside, consider outdoor spaces with lots of shade and running water.
Shut windows and close curtains and blinds during the heat of the day to block the sun and prevent hotter outdoor air from coming inside. Open doors and windows when it is cooler outside to move that cooler air indoors.
Ensure that you have a working fan, but do not rely on fans as your primary means of cooling. Fans can be used to draw cooler late-evening, overnight and early-morning air indoors. Keep track of temperatures in your home using a thermostat or thermometer. Sustained indoor temperatures over 31 C can be dangerous for people who are susceptible to heat.
If your home gets very hot, consider staying with a friend or relative who has air conditioning if possible.
Identify people who may be at high risk for heat-related illness. If possible, help them prepare for heat and plan to check in on them.

Who's at risk during hot weather?

It is important to monitor yourself, family members, neighbours and friends during hot weather. Consider developing a check-in system for those who are at high risk of heat-related illness.

The most susceptible individuals include:
- older adults, especially those over 60
- people who live alone
- people with pre-existing health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or respiratory disease
- people with mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, depression or anxiety
- people with substance use disorders
- people with limited mobility and other disabilities
- people who are marginally housed
- people who work in hot environments
- people who are pregnant
- infants and young children

What you can do to stay healthy

Drink plenty of water and other liquids to stay hydrated, even if you are not thirsty.
Spray your body with water, wear a damp shirt, take a cool shower or bath or sit with part of your body in water to cool down.
Take it easy, especially during the hottest hours of the day.
Stay in the shade and use a broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or more.
Take immediate action to cool down if you are overheating. Signs of overheating include feeling unwell, headache and dizziness. Overheating can lead to heat exhaustion and heat stroke.
Signs of heat exhaustion include heavy sweating, severe headache, muscle cramps, extreme thirst and dark urine. If you are experiencing these symptoms, you should seek a cooler environment, drink plenty of water, rest and use water to cool your body.
Signs of heat stroke include loss of consciousness, disorientation, confusion, severe nausea or vomiting and very dark urine or no urine. Heat stroke is a medical emergency.