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With wildfires sparking up all over the Okanagan Valley, many residents are preparing themselves for an evacuation order.
Whether you’re already on evacuation alert or not, it’s always good to be prepared for a potential evacuation order during fire season.
There are currently two wildfires in the Okanagan that are threatening homes and a number of alerts and orders have been put in place.
Here are a number of things that you can to prepare yourself for an evacuation order, whether you’re on alert or not, and then once an order is actually issued.
On evacuation alert (or even before hand):
- Locating all family members or co-workers and designate a Reception Centre outside the evacuation area, should an evacuation be called while separated.
- Gather essential items such as keys, wallets, purse, medications, eyeglasses, valuable papers (i.e. insurance), immediate care needs for dependents and, if you choose, keepsakes (family photos etc.). Have these items readily available for quick departure.
- Prepare to move any disabled persons and/or children.
- Move pets and livestock to a safe area.
- Arrange to transport your household members or co-workers in the event of an evacuation order.
- Arrange accommodation for your family if possible. In the event of an evacuation, Reception Centres will be opened if required.
- Monitor news sources for information on evacuation orders and locations of Reception Centres.
On evacuation order:
- Close all windows and doors in homes and outbuildings
- Shut off all gas and electrical appliances, other than refrigerators and freezers
- Take critical items (medicine, purse, wallet and keys) only if they are immediately available (which they should be if you’d prepared in advance).
- Grab other important items like photo albums, other family keepsakes and important documents, again if you’ve prepared them in advance.
- Close gates (latch) but do not lock
- Gather your family: take a neighbour or someone who needs help
- Take pets in pet kennels or on leash.
- Do not use more vehicles than you have to.
To view evacuation orders and alerts for the Mount Eneas wildfire, click here.
To view evacuation alerts for the Good Creek wildfire, click here.
Thumbnail photo courtesy of Carolyn Pelton.
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