Emergency Preparedness

Components of an emergency kit including items like a first aid kit, food, water, toilet paper

Being prepared for emergencies is everyone's responsibility. Understanding local hazards and having a plan in place can help you protect yourself and others. To support community readiness, Port Moody staff train regularly, plan for emergency situations, and work with other organizations so that we are prepared when necessary.

How you can prepare

Know your hazards

Be aware of hazards that may happen near where you, live, work, and play so you can plan accordingly. Visit the Hazards page to learn more about the risks in Port Moody.

Make your plan

Once you have considered which hazards could impact you, it’s important to make a plan for if they do. The resources below contain checklists, instructions, and templates to help you get set up.

Everyone’s plan will look different depending on the make-up of your household and your individual needs. There are many resources available to help you build your own plan, including:

 

Gather your supplies

Once you have your plan in place, the next step is making sure you have the necessary supplies to keep everyone in your household comfortable for three days to two weeks during an emergency.

There are two types of emergency kits to prepare:

  • Grab-and-go bag – to take with you if you need to evacuate
  • A home emergency kit – extra supplies for if you can stay at home or need to shelter-in-place

Remember to gather important documents and keepsakes, so they are ready to go if you need to evacuate.

Learn more about emergency kits

Prepare your home

Reducing the hazards in your home can help keep you safe if a disaster hits. There are several ways to do this: 

  • Secure heavy furniture and appliances to the wall to lower the risk of them falling on someone during an earthquake.
  • Use hooks or safety latches on cabinet doors.
  • Clean gutters and storm drains regularly.
    Map out your emergency exit routes and consider adding the location of your emergency supplies and potential hazards to the map.
  • Make sure you know how to turn off your electrical panel, water main valve, and gas valve (if instructed to do so).
  • Consider getting home or contents insurance. Learn more about insurance coverage in B.C. and how it can help you prepare.
  • Consider getting a free home safety inspection done by Port Moody Fire Rescue.

How the City prepares for emergencies

The City of Port Moody’s Emergency Program consists of an Emergency Program Coordinator and an Emergency Measures Policy/Planning Committee made up of subject matter experts from across the municipality. This team prepares the community for any emergency or disaster that could occur.

The City regularly conducts Hazard, Risk, and Vulnerability Analysis (HRVA) to identify potential hazards that could affect our community, such as severe weather, wildfires, or industrial accidents. We look at how likely each hazard is to occur and what the impacts could be on people, property, infrastructure, and essential services. This process also helps us identify who or what might be most at risk. The HRVA is updated regularly to help us focus our resources, improve preparedness, and reduce the impact of emergencies on the community.

Port Moody has plans for various types of emergency situations, including evacuation, extreme weather, wild and interface fires, windstorms, debris and hazardous material. During emergencies, City staff will use any one of these plans to mitigate and manage the emergency. Emergency Program Staff regularly review and practice the plans to make sure they meet the needs of the growing community and the changing disaster landscape.

The City of Port Moody has an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) that it utilizes during large emergency or disasters. The EOC serves as a central coordination hub for response and recovery efforts. Trained staff manage resources and facilitate communication between various agencies and levels of government to ensure an effective, coordinated response to a crisis or disaster. To ensure the EOC is ready for any situation, staff complete regular training and emergency exercises that are mandated by the provincial government.

Emergency Support Services (ESS) is a provincial emergency response program administered by First Nations Governments and local authorities. The program provides short-term support to meet the basic needs of British Columbians impacted by disasters.

The City of Port Moody's ESS team has established arrangements with local partners to support residents forced from their homes, helping them re-establish themselves as quickly as possible after an emergency. The support may include:

  • providing access to meals and essential nutrition;
  • arranging temporary accommodation;
  • providing essential clothing if required;
  • assistance with temporary pet care; and
  • offering psychological and emotional assistance.

These services are provided through a variety of means (vouchers, gift cards, e-transfers, etc.) and aim to ensure the safety, well-being, and recovery of residents during and after emergencies.

In a major emergency, the ESS team may open a reception centre to deliver these supports. A Reception Centre is a pre-identified facility where ESS services can be provided to the community. The location of these centres will be shared on the City’s website and social media, as well as through news outlets.  

We recommend that everyone impacted by the emergency register with ESS, whether or not you require support, so that emergency officials know you are safe and accounted for.

Before an emergency hits, you can create a profile on the Evacuee Registration and Assistance (ERA) online tool. By setting your profile up in advance, you can make it easier to get supports if you need them during an emergency. You can create a profile any time at gov.bc.ca.

Program staff work closely with local and regional partners, including neighbouring municipalities and First Nations, first responders, public health officials, and local non-profits. We hold regular meetings and planning sessions to make sure everyone understands their roles and can act quickly when something happens.