Whereas the Province is modernizing the Emergency Program Act which sets out the responsibilities of the Province and local governments related to emergency preparedness, response and recovery; And whereas individuals and businesses must be informed to understand their personal responsibilities in emergency preparedness with regard to the things individuals and businesses can and should do to mitigate the impact of any emergency; Therefore be it resolved that the Province, as part of its work to modernize emergency management legislation, fund education targeting all key stakeholders, including local governments, individuals and businesses on how to manage new legislative responsibilities, including preparation for potential disasters or emergencies.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General Emergency Management BC EMBC actively works to promote emergency preparedness for individuals, businesses, and communities. As government works to modernize emergency management, including introducing new emergency management legislation, EMBC will be working closely with all partners to ensure that the changes are well understood and effectively implemented. A key tool for emergency management public education is PreparedBC. Created in 2015, PreparedBC is British Columbias official emergency preparedness education program serving the general public, local authorities, schools and Indigenous communities. PreparedBC core programs include: - PreparedBC library resources: - More than 15 guides addressing BCs top hazards and personal readiness, as well as niche planning considerations for small businesses and people with disabilities. - Hardcopy guides are available for free to local authorities and related agencies. They can also be downloaded from PreparedBC.ca. - Hazard-based social media packages are available for use by local authorities. They include pre-done graphics and content that can be customized for regional needs. - Master of Disaster classroom program, for grades 4 to 8, teaches youth about the hazards in BC and how they can prepare their families, neighborhoods, and communities. It is endorsed by the Ministry of Education, aligns with core curriculum competencies, and includes an emergency plan to be completed by parents and caregivers. - Partners in Preparedness retail program is a marketing program that partners with retailers to promote household readiness through the sale of recommended emergency supplies at participating stores. Adopters include London Drugs, Save On Foods and Mountain Equipment Co-op. - High Ground Hike tsunami readiness program is a program to assist at-risk communities in hosting High Ground Hikes during Tsunami Preparedness Week every April. Participants are encouraged to walk, run or hike to designated safe areas to reinforce proper tsunami response. - Online Engagement through the administration of the PreparedBC Twitter feed PreparedBC and the PreparedBC Facebook page with the intent of sparking conversation and action around personal readiness. PreparedBCs future state is a program refresh planned to ensure alignment with the Sendai Framework, the BC Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, and a shift toward Disaster Risk Reduction and Disaster Risk Management. Engagement on new emergency management legislation will have Emergency Management BC continue working with partners after new legislation is passed to ensure a common understanding of new responsibilities and how that supports an all of government and all of society approach to emergency management. Emergency Management BC will also be working closely with partners such as local authorities to manage implementation requirements. Links PreparedBC Guide Library: https:www2.gov.bc.cagovcontentsafetyemergency-managementpreparedbcguide… PrepareBC.ca: https:www2.gov.bc.cagovcontentsafetyemergency-managementpreparedbcguide…