British Columbians mistaking pandemic preparedness for power outage readiness – report

Nov 13, 2020 | 7:08 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — A new report by BC Hydro says British Columbians are mistaking pandemic preparedness with power outage readiness.

The report titled ‘Stocked up but unprepared: How COVID-19 preparation has created a false sense of storm season security’ found nearly 20 percent of people think they are more prepared for winter storms this year because of COVID-19.

“People think they’re ready but they really aren’t,” says Bob Gammer with BC Hydro. “Even getting an emergency plan prepared is a good start.”

This sense of preparedness comes from stocking up on household supplies like toilet paper, hand sanitizer, groceries, and alcohol – which 44 percent indicate they have done.

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Despite all this, the report also found that over half of us do not have an emergency preparedness kit and about 30 percent admit they have not taken any steps to prepare for an outage.

Deputy Chief with Prince George Fire Rescue says that COVID-19 there’s even more reason to look at it from a “broader perspective,” and ask yourself if you have what you might need without power.

All of this as new data shows a 117 percent increase in storms causing damage to BC Hydro’s electric system.

To properly prepare for a storm, BC Hydro says we can take a number of steps including having an emergency kit on hand and making a plan for your family or household.

by Greg Fry

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British Columbians mistaking pandemic preparedness for power outage readiness – report

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