[From the Archives: Nov 11, 2019]

Quadra Island probably has one of the most highly developed Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Programs (NEPP) in Northern Vancouver Island. In the last of my interviews from the 2019 Emergency Preparedness Tradeshow, Betsy Young Quadra Island’s NEPP coordinator,  explained how to set up a NEPP program in your neighbourhood.

Click here to listen to a podcast about the Potlatch Road NEPP , on Cortes Island, and the 2019 NEPP workshop at Mansons Hall.

“I think the place to begin is to develop your own knowledge of  emergency preparedness. There is a lot of material available from EMBC and the Strathcona Regional District. There are many websites and videos on YouTube that can give you information about the kinds of things that are important in your own preparedness. Begin there, in preparing your own grab and go bag, family evacuation plan, collecting food and water for an extended time when you may be on your own resources after an earthquake or power outage.” – Betsy Young

Setting Up A NEPP

The next step is talking to your friends. In the podcast above, Betsy talks about how Quadra’s NEPP developed through personal contacts, neighbourhood organizations (ESS, churches, Block Watch), and events like the Quadra Island Fall Fair. 

“Once you get a geographical area (your street or a larger area), then its helpful for you and a friend to go around to meet your neighbours and talk to them about emergency preparedness. Sometimes people will do that individually, knocking on doors, sometimes they will invite the neighbours to a barbeque, potluck or coffee hour at their home. If you have a neighbourhood that is willing, and oftentimes we run into quite a bit of resistance, the next step is to gather contact information so that in an emergency you would be able to see if your neighbours are okay. 

“Develop a response team, particularly in the case of a shelter in place emergency like an earthquake. Know who in your neighbourhood might have medical training, engineering training, computers, carpentry work etc. Know the kinds of skill of assets that are available right in your neighbourhood …” 

“We aren’t first responders or people who go out on an emergency call. We can be helpful when the emergency services abilities are strapped, there is just too much need or people can’t get around. Then the neighbourhood becomes the primary support and help …” – Betsy Young 

Quadra Island’s NEPP

As you will hear in the podcast above, 25 of Quadra Island’s 42 neighbourhoods have an active NEPP. 

“Just knowing your neighbours is a real significant portion of emergency preparedness. If someone comes to your door during a disaster event, you are much more likely to have them come in if you know who they are.”

Quadra Island Emergency Program website: 

• New to Quadra Island?
• Quadra Island Emergency Program
• Emergency Preparedness Workbook
• Grab & Go Bag checklist
• Develop Your Emergency Plan
• Quadra Island Zones
• Designated ESS Locations
• BC Tsunami Notification Zones
• Quadra Island – Community Wildfire Protection Plan
• Become FireSmart
• Sign up for ConnectRocket Notifications

Useful Links:

• PreparedBC
• FireSmart BC
• EmergencyInfo BC
• BC Fire Danger Rating map
• BC Hydro Outage Map
• Quadra Island Fire Department
• Quadra Island Fire Department (Facebook)
• Campbell River ESS (Facebook)
• SRD – Protective Services
• Quadra Emergency facebook page

Top photo credit: View from hotel in Quathiaski Cove, Quadra Island by Gord Webster via Flickr (CC BT SA, 2.0 License)

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