Since 2006, the BCCPD Emergency Preparedness Project has been a leader in promoting the inclusion of people with disabilities in emergency preparedness in British Columbia and Canada. Please see below our many projects and outreach activities related to emergency preparedness.
Every organization should be prepared for an emergency but are you? Is your organization prepared to deliver its services to your most vulnerable clients if a disaster hits? How will your organization respond to a large scale emergency? What will your role be in the community?
Through our partnership with Volunteer Canada, we have trained 20 trainers from disability organizations and volunteer centres from BC, Yukon, Alberta, Ontario and New Brunswick to deliver our community training in emergency planning for people with disabilities.
The training manual we created, Prepare to Survive - Prepare to Help, is full of exercises and resources for community groups who want to play a role in emergency planning and response in their communities.
Download Prepare to Survive - Prepare to Help here.
Also, see the Community Organizations link on our Library/Emergency Preparedness page for new PowerPoint presentations. These PowerPoint files will assist trainers who want to use certain exercises in the Prepare to Survive manual. Training podcasts and videos coming soon.
Since 2008, we have distributed over 1800 copies of our Workplace Emergency Planning for Workers with Disabilities handbook. We also co-created a wallet card tool that assists people with disabilities during an emergency. The card, piloted in 3 BC communities, assists people to communicate their functional needs and required services, without disclosing detailed information about their disability, to Emergency Social Services workers.
BCCPD has created a new program to train businesses, government departments and community organizations how to create emergency plans that include people with disabilities and seniors. By taking SITE, Strategic Inclusive Training for Emergencies, you'll learn how to make your emergency plans inclusive–and meet your WorkSafe BC requirements. Learn about SITE here.
If you call 9-1-1, will emergency personnel understand your needs? The BCCPD has worked with the BC Ambulance Service (BCAS) to help you be prepared. Now, people with disabilities and seniors can voluntarily and confidentially provide BCAS with information that will help them respond better to your needs, if you should ever have to make an emergency 9-1-1 call from your home. This is how it works:
We regularly give presentations to organizations and attend conferences in the community. Recently we presented to Vancouver Coastal Health's Northeast Mental Health Team, BC Association for Community Living, Squamish Emergency Social Services, and various Health and Safety conferences.
We are now working closely with the City of Surrey’s Diversity and Inclusion Department as they incorporate our training and materials into their ESS planning and response procedures. We presented to Vancouver Park Board and City Council regarding motions to improve the city’s earthquake preparedness and response program. The BCCPD also had an exhibit table at the annual Emergency Social Services Association conference in April 2011. The BCCPD participated in a national consultation on pandemic planning for vulnerable populations hosted by Public Health Agency of Canada in February 2011 in Winnipeg.
The BCCPD held a 'Get Prepared' workshop for community groups in November 2010. Through videos, demonstrations, and discussion, participants learned about emergency preparedness for individuals with disabilities and for community organizations.
The BCCPD coordinates the Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities Committee (EPPDC). New members are welcome.
Including People with Disabilities and Seniors
Contact Karen Martin for more information on our Emergency Preparedness program at:
604-875-0188 karen@bccpd.bc.ca
And, see all our free publications in the Emergency Preparedness section of our Library.