Emergency Preparedness Week takes place May 3–9, and the Regional District of East Kootenay (RDEK) is encouraging residents to take simple steps now to be better prepared for emergencies and to help build stronger, more resilient communities in the process.

“Preparedness starts at home,” said RDEK Communications Manager Loree Duczek. “When individuals and families are ready for an emergency, they are in a better position to support friends, neighbours, and the broader community. Research continues to show that strong social connections can reduce the impacts of emergencies and help communities recover more quickly.”

One of the most important steps residents can take is to sign up for the Regional Evacuation Notification System (ENS) and confirm that their property is pinned accurately. Powered by Voyent Alert!, the ENS sends notifications when a resident’s pinned location is affected by an evacuation alert or order.

Residents and property owners can sign up to receive alerts by landline, mobile phone, text message, or through the Voyent Alert! app. Instructions for registering are available at www.rdek.bc.ca/ENS.

“The ENS is used only for evacuation alerts and evacuation orders during critical events,” said Duczek. “It is an important tool that helps us notify affected areas as quickly as possible when every minute counts.”

The RDEK is encouraging residents to register for the ENS by Sunday, May 10, ahead of a region-wide test of the system on Monday, May 11 at 2 p.m.

Residents who have already registered are also encouraged to log in and confirm their property is pinned in the correct location, especially if they originally registered using a postal code rather than a precise address or map pin.

For those using the Voyent Alert! app, the RDEK is also reminding residents to make sure the app is still active on their phone.

“Many mobile devices automatically offload apps that haven’t been opened in a while,” added Duczek. “Because people hopefully do not need to use the app often, this is a good time to check that it is still installed and active.”

Throughout Emergency Preparedness Week, the RDEK will also be sharing information and resources to help residents prepare for a range of emergencies. This includes practical steps such as building an emergency kit, making a household plan, and practicing how to respond if an evacuation is required.

Toolkits, guides, and preparedness resources are available at www.preparedbc.ca.

A number of Emergency Preparedness Week events are also taking place across the region, including:

Ember Stomp – Wildfire Community Preparedness Event – May 1 from 12 to 7 p.m. at Jaffray Community Hall (7369 Jaffray Village Loop Road).

Wildfire Preparedness Open House – May 9 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Invermere Fire Hall (626 4 St, Invermere).

Family Safety Day on May 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Fernie City Hall (501 3 Ave).

For event details and more emergency preparedness information, visit the Emergency Information page at www.rdek.bc.ca/beprepared .

RDEK

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