Emergency Preparedness Week isi the first week in May. Volunteers of the Keremeos Emergency Social Services (ESS) are currently making their preparations. They are organizing and training for sitting up a reception centre so that the residents of Keremeos, Cawston, and Ollala and area will have a place to go in the event of a flood, fire, or other major incident. The most likely place for the reception centre is the high school gym at SESS.
ESS is a provincial program and is one part of the emergency response. It works closely with the police and fire departments as well as search and rescue, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army, and others.
This article is simply to let you know that such an organization exists in Keremeos. Also, it is suggested that each person keep a “grab and go” bag. It should contain a change of clothes, flashlight, radio with battteries, change for a pay phone, pen and paper, a list of names and phone numbers of contacts, a first aid kit, water and granola bars. Other personal items like glasses, medications, and toiletries are included, too.
Athough flood and fire season is just around the corner let’s hope we won’t have to use our grab and go bag. But let’s be prepared.
For more information or to become a volunteer, call Grace at 250-499-5497.