Parksville is offering emergency preparation workshops for national annual Emergency Preparedness Week.
Recent world events highlight that disasters can happen anywhere with little or no warning and that being prepared could save your life or the lives of others and significantly improve your quality of living in the aftermath.
The May 1 to 7 week will be recognized in District 69 with a regional approach to emergency operations and communications strategies.
They will also be focusing again on the importance of personal preparation as a shared responsibility.
To prepare for all types of emergencies, people should take three important steps — having a kit, a plan and identify risks.
Parksville’s emergency program coordinator Aaron Dawson stresses that residents must be able to take care of themselves for at least 72 hours after an emergency when first responders are helping those in urgent need.
The city workshop will teach you what to do before, during and after an emergency, what to include in an emergency kit, why a family emergency plan is important and what can be expected after a disaster.
People unable to attend but who would like further information can visit www.parksville.ca for information and links or the federal emergency preparedness website www.getprepared.ca.
The city will host Emergency Preparedness 101 twice on May 4, from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. in the Parksville Civic and Technology Centre Forum, 100 Jensen Avenue East.
People must register by e-mailing communications@parksville.ca or calling 250-954-3073.
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