Emergency Preparedness

Emergency preparedness is a priority in Anmore.

Our Village’s rural setting carries a unique set of risks in a disaster. We are surrounded by forests and have many areas with dense trees and open brush. As well, there are a limited number of routes in and out of the community, and those routes are also used by people who travel to and through the Village for access to recreation areas such as Buntzen Lake.

The information on this page will help you prepare yourself and your family for a variety of emergencies.

Emergency Guide

This guide offers the basic information you will need to prepare for and respond to an emergency. You and your household should be prepared to care for yourselves for at least 72 hours but this could be longer depending on the type of emergency. By preparing for an emergency, you can improve the potential outcomes for you, your family and your neighbours.

  • Take a first-aid course and keep first aid kits in your home and vehicle(s)
  • Ensure that you have a working fire extinguisher in your home
  • Create an emergency plan with your family
  • Have a paper list of important phone numbers
  • Pick a meeting place for your family to gather after an event
  • Know how to get information in a disaster

  • Personal emergency kit
  • Enough food and water to last at least 72 hours
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • Cellular phone charger
  • AM/FM radio
  • Seasonal clothing and blankets
  • Toiletries such as soap, a toothbrush and sunscreen
  • Extra keys for houses and cars
  • Cash in small bills
  • Any medications necessary for your family
  • Insurance documents for your house

  • Leash, muzzle, harness and/or a pet carrier
  • Enough food and water for 72 hours
  • Dishes for food and water
  • Dogs – roll of plastic bags
  • Cats – small container and litter

Potential Dangers in Anmore

The following emergency situations have been identified as part of a risk assessment for Anmore. It’s important to be familiar with the risks and the steps residents can take to prepare for these emergency events.

A wildland urban interface fire is a fire that moves through wild areas and into a populated area, an obvious concern in Anmore. While the small wildfires we see around Anmore most years are usually managed by local resources, recent events in B.C. have shown that large, fast-moving fires that start in the wild could hit the Village more severely.

FireSmart is an initiative to help property owners understand the ways in which wildfire might threaten your home and property, and the steps that individuals and communities can take to reduce the risk to buildings and property caused by a fire.

Simple steps you can take:

  • Clear flammable plants and vegetation from within 10 m of structures, including sheds and outbuildings
  • Ensure that tree branches and vegetation do not overhang rooves
  • Prune trees to a height of 2 m above the ground
  • Clear away dead and dry brush material within 30 m of any structure
  • Plant or replace vegetation with fire-resistant species

Go to the FireSmart Homeowners Manual for more information.

Storms with high winds are becoming more common and more severe. Historically, the Village of Anmore has experienced one or more extreme weather incident each year over the past decade.

Simple steps you can take:

  • Before a storm
    • Remove large branches that overhang buildings.
    • Prune trees with large crowns to thin them and make trees more resilient to high winds.
    • Remove dead or dying trees before they become a falling threat.
    • When a storm is imminent, secure outside items that could become hazards.
    • Have an emergency kit, food and water prepared to shelter in your home.
  • After a storm
    • Stay 10 m from any downed powerlines – always assume they are live.
    • Never try to clear or move large debris as downed trees, branches and utility poles can collapse.

Coastal B.C. is prone to severe earthquakes and it is only a matter of time before one strikes. In the aftermath of a quake, Anmore is likely to be isolated due to fallen trees, damaged roads and downed power lines. There are also likely to be delays in receiving medical assistance, supplies of food, water and emergency gear, and in the clearance of debris from roadways.

Simple steps you can take:

  • Before an earthquake
    • Secure large furniture to walls and evaluate your home for high objects that could fall.
    • Evaluate your food supplies and consider having two weeks of less-perishable food on hand.
    • Water is critical for survival. Learn how to access and use water stored in your hot water tank, toilet tanks, rain barrels or other sources. (Learn how to make water safe for drinking.)
  • During an earthquake
    • Drop, cover and hold on.
    • Wait 60 seconds after the shaking stops before you move.
    • Be prepared for aftershocks.
  • After an earthquake
    • Make sure everyone around you is safe; provide medical treatment to the injured immediately.
    • Put out any fires in or around your home.
    • Stay away from downed or damaged powerlines.
    • Stay in your home if you are able to; evacuate if it is not safe.
    • Listen for instructions on the radio or through social media.
    • Inventory your food and water.

Evacuations

In many scenarios, the safest option is to evacuate away from the threat before it happens (such as a wildfire) or to leave damaged areas after a disaster (such as an earthquake). We strongly encourage all residents to download Alertable to receive critical alerts from us during emergencies.

The Village will issue messages about how to respond to a disaster:

An Evacuation Alert indicates that residents should be prepared to leave at a moment’s notice. You should have your grab-and-go bag ready. If you decide to leave at this point, it is called a Voluntary Evacuation.

If the Village decides that residents are at risk in their homes, it will issue an Evacuation Order because you are at risk and need to leave immediately. This can be enforced by the police. In case of an Evacuation Order, you are strongly encouraged to move to a Reception Centre and register so that officials know you are safe and can be connected with services to assist you while you are away from your home.

Simple steps you can take:

  • Have a grab-and-go bag with your personal effects, medication and some food and water.
  • Secure your home and lock all doors windows.
  • Take your pets with you.
  • Forward your home phone, if you have one, to your cellular phone.
  • Follow instructions provided by emergency officials.
  • Register with the Emergency Social Services at a designated Reception Centre.

When it is safe to do so, the Village will issue an Evacuation Rescind, which means the Evacuation Order is cancelled and residents may return home. It is important to pay attention to any remaining safety notices or Evacuation Alerts that are still in place.

There may be situations where the safest response is to remain in your home. This is called Shelter in Place and that means: stay inside, close doors and windows, and turn off kitchen and bathroom fans. Evaluate your food and water supplies. Be prepared to remain in your home for up to 72 hours without external support.

Are you and your family prepared in the event of an emergency?

Take some time to review the links and resources below. Understand that in the event of a significant emergency, you and your family may need to fend for yourselves for a period of days.

Do you have special equipment, skills or resources that would be helpful in the event of an emergency?

Please submit a Community Emergency Capacity Inventory to the Village Hall.

Are there any members of your household who may require special care in the event of a community emergency (i.e., individuals with mobility concerns, special needs or health issues)?

Please submit an Emergency Planning Functional Needs Identification to the Village Hall.