No need for the ark...yet!

I've been thinking about this one for a while now, but this morning I think the crazy weather of the past year (more specifically the last two months) really hit home. I was on my way to work, aboard the Grouse Mountain Skyride enjoying an amazing sunrise when suddenly the wind picked up. Great! When I got to my office (at the Peak of Vancouver), after a head-down battle with the relentless wind across the mountain plateau, I was advised by our fabulous dispatcher of yet another wind warning for the area. Even better!

You don't have to be a weather expert to realize that November and December have been more than a little bit unusual. A quick look at some of this fall's headlines says it all:

"Hundreds of Chilliwack residents evacuated as river overflows"

"Water, Water everywhere"

"No end yet to Vancouver's boil-water advisory"

"Crippled by storm, BC sees new one approach"

"Mother nature unforgiving, blasting BC's south coast again"

"Mayor seeks emergency funds"

The damage left by recent storms has left an incredible footprint (Have you seen the opictures of Stanley Park?) that should serve as a reminder to all of us about our vulnerabilities when pitted against the forces of nature. Why the sudden change? Of course we can speculate. Maybe global warming (if your a member of the BC NDP then its surely the governments fault) but regardless of why its happening, the bigger question must be whether or not we have learned anything from the experience of all this bad weather?

Really! What is going to happen the next time we find ourselves faced with a precautionary boil-water advisory? How will we fare the next time higher than normal winds cause longer than average power interruptions? What would we do if something really big and bad happened, like an earthquake?

Popular school of thought tells us that we should be prepared to survive on our own for up to 72 hours. To do this there are some very basic items that you and your family must have on hand. These things make up your emergency survival kit and, combined with a plan and some basic knowledge should help you to weather any storm:

1. Water - you'll need 4 litres per person, per day. This water will be used for drinking, washing and preparing your food.

2. Food - be sure to pick non-perishable food that doesn't need a lot of water to prepare and that won't make you thirsty.

3. Manual can opener - in case the electric one doesn't work.

4. Flashlight with spare batteries - check your batteries (in everything) every 6 months, with daylight savings times.

5. Candles - with matches or a lighter.

6. Radio - make sure its a battery powered one and keep a spare set of batteries.

7. First Aid kit - In a big event emergency responders will be extremely busy and probably only able to respond to life-threatening illnesses and injuries.

8. Extra medication, prescriptions, baby formula etc.

9. Extra keys to your car and house.

10. Extra cash or travellers cheques - don't assume that bank machines or debit machines will be working.

The above is a minimum list of things that you should have. In order to make your 72 hours as comfortable as possible, you should also consider packing:

1. Changes of clothing and footwear for all family members.

2. Sleeping bags or extra blankets.

3. A whistle.

4. Garbage bags - in case sewer and septic systems don't work.

5. Toilet paper.

6. Gloves.

7. A basic tool kit that includes things like an adjustable wrench, pliers, screwdrivers, hammer etc.

8. A small fuel powered stove, with instructions for its safe use.

The wind today has been a little bit inconvenient for us at Grouse Mountain but I for one, take comfort in the fact that we have very good plans for dealing with just these types of situations. Planning is the critical element that will ensure all of us make it comfortably through whatever mother nature throws at us. We certainly can't change the weather, hopefully we have learned something from our experiences and the next time it happens we will be prepared. Please check out the emergency preparedness links in the community section of my blog.

I wish you all a safe and happy holiday from my family to all of yours.

Ray