Emergencies can happen at any time and your best defence is to be prepared!
Whether an emergency occurs from human-caused, technological or natural means, be assured that the District of Sparwood has emergency management plans and programs in place. The nature and scope of an emergency determines which emergency plans and programs will be activated.
Find the District’s EOC Program here.
If you are experiencing and emergency, dial 911.
We want our community to be prepared for an emergency. Forest fires, floods, avalanches and other emergencies affect hundreds of people in British Columbia each year.
It is important to always be prepared, especially when we live in a location that is prone to heavy snowfall, freshet or wildfires. Here is what you can do:
Here are some excellent resources to help you and your family prepare for any kind of emergency:
In the event of an emergency requiring an evaluation alert or warning, you will receive notification from various sources which include, but are not limited to:
Ensure you follow, listen to or view reliable new sources, such as those listed above.
More information can also be found at:
Preparing for Emergencies
All it takes is three simple steps to get prepared for emergencies:
Learn how to prepare for an emergency
In an emergency, we will be working to ensure the safety of residents. We will work closely with utilities, businesses, provincial ministries and community partners to respond to the emergency. Follow and listen to or view the reliable news sources listed above.
Learn how to get more information during an emergency
Care needs to be taken when re-entering your home after an emergency and understanding your family may need help in coping.
The key objectives of the Vulnerable Person Registry (VPR) initiative are to improve the safety of vulnerable individuals in Sparwood and to support positive communication between the District and the community.
The development and implementation of a VPR is an essential piece to the District’s emergency preparedness efforts as it will improve both disaster planning and response capacity by providing key information to authorized response personnel during emergency events. This also includes impacts from power outages and residential evacuation needs.
A vulnerable person is defined as an individual who due to age, illness, trauma, disability or another reason, may be unable to take care of themselves or protect themselves against harm. This registry will ensure that first responders and emergency social services teams are better prepared to provide proper assistance in the event of an emergency. If a vulnerable person is thought to be at risk, their personal information will be shared with emergency responders, allowing them to provide effective assistance to the registrant.
Emergencies and disasters can strike at any moment and without warning – they can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or be constrained to your home. In the event of an emergency, many of these vulnerable people do not evacuate due to limited means – whether they have no place to go, no way of transportation or they lack the assistance required to be able to leave safely. Vulnerable people are more likely to suffer in times of emergency especially if they lack adequate support systems.
Having your name on this registry is not compulsory and participation is completely voluntary. All information provided will remain confidential and will only be released to emergency responders when an emergency occurs or during emergency preparedness planning. It is important to note that registering your name does not guarantee extra assistance in an emergency.
Please complete one registry form for each vulnerable person in your household; additional copies can be picked up at the District Office or found online here. When completed, the registry forms can be returned to the District Office at 136 Spruce Avenue during regular work hours of 8:30 am – 4:00 pm, Monday to Friday, or online via https://sparwood.ca/contact/.
Any further questions regarding this registry can be directed to 250.425.6271 or sparwood@sparwood.ca.
Thank you for your participation.
