Preparedness event brings experts north

Dr. Keith Porter, Chief Engineer with the Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction, says one of the biggest mistakes people make is viewing preparedness as an optional expense.

“I think the biggest misconception is the choice to prepare for disaster or not to prepare or basically to spend money, to prepare for disaster or not to. That’s not the choice. The choice is either to prepare before the disaster or to pay heavily to recover from the disaster.”

Porter says disasters often force people to make costly repairs and adaptations after the fact, making proactive investments in preparedness a smarter and more affordable option in the long run.

While wildfires have become a familiar concern for many northern residents, organizers say other threats, including earthquakes, can still have serious impacts on communities throughout the region.

Heather Crozier, a board member with the B.C. Earthquake Alliance, says many people are surprised to learn earthquakes have occurred in the Prince George area.

“So we’re here today just to bring awareness to earthquake and tsunami preparedness in the north. Typically, those aren’t hazards that we face regularly, such as wildfires, which are more prominent but they still can happen. We have had earthquakes in Prince George before, so we just want to bring awareness to that and make sure that everybody understands, drop, cover and hold on.”

The event also includes information on emergency response actions and preparedness exercises, including the annual Great B.C. ShakeOut earthquake drill, which helps individuals, schools and workplaces practise what to do during an earthquake.

Beyond earthquakes, wildfire preparedness is also a key focus of the exhibition. Following several challenging wildfire seasons across British Columbia, experts are emphasizing measures that homeowners can take to reduce the risk of their properties being damaged by fire.

Porter says one of the most effective strategies is creating a defensible space around homes, particularly for properties located near forested areas.

” I think around here, if you’re, anywhere within a kilometer of the wildlands try to remove combustible material from the first meter and a half around your house. That means just remove shrubs, remove wood planters. If you’ve got grass that leads up to it, just take out the grass for the first five feet and replace it with bare earth or gravel or something like that. That last meter and a half, can can make the difference between your house burning down the fire and not burning down the fire.”

Organizers say those types of low-cost mitigation measures can significantly improve a home’s ability to withstand a wildfire and may help reduce losses when fires threaten communities.

The event also provides residents an opportunity to speak directly with preparedness experts, learn about volunteer opportunities and explore educational resources tailored to British Columbia’s unique hazards.

By bringing the exhibition to Prince George, organizers hope to expand awareness of disaster resilience in Northern B.C. and encourage more people to take action before an emergency occurs.

The free public event continues Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the UNBC Teaching and Learning Building Atrium. Residents are invited to drop in, explore the exhibits and learn practical steps they can take to prepare for the next emergency, whether it comes in the form of an earthquake, flood or wildfire.

by Nick Dube

Preparedness event brings experts north

What's Trending