W hat would you do if you had only 10 minutes left in your home before evacuating, possibly never coming back?
Our jaws drop at the images of Fort McMurray’s people desperately fleeing the flames along a congested highway as their world literally burned around them.
And our hearts go out to the thousands who have lost so much. Many of them are young trades workers who have made their way there from parts of the country where a career and living wage can’t be found.
The best way to help is to donate through the Canadian Red Cross.
Still, we are heartened that there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities as emergency crews mobilized and evacuated 80,000 residents to safety.
It is sadly poetic this is playing out as we mark Emergency Preparedness Week in B.C. This is about as stark a reminder as they come. We talk a lot about “the big one” but we too live on the edge of a forest that turns to kindling in our increasingly hot, dry summers. We too would face a daunting and slow exile if our mountainside were to burn.
This weekend, take a few minutes away from your backyard bliss and put together your emergency preparedness plan. That means knowing what you’ll grab at a moment’s notice and what you’ll need for at least seven days after. It’s best if you’re co-ordinated with family and neighbours so everyone is pulling together should all hell break loose. And, as they say, don’t be scared, be prepared.
The province’s PreparedBC web page is an excellent place to start.
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