| May 4, 2010 Emergency Preparedness Week: How Prepared Are You? VICTORIA- Chilliwack MLA John Les spoke in the legislature today to remind all British Columbians about Emergency Preparedness Week and to encourage residents to plan ahead. “I rise today to help dispel any obliviousness to natural, and other, disasters. This year, we’ve seen major earthquakes impact Haiti, Chile and Southern China. We’ve seen floods recently in the Southeast United States and wildfires in California, Australia and, of course, here in our own province. “Yet you still hear people say, ‘that won’t happen to us.’ This week is Emergency Preparedness Week- a national effort to shatter that myth and encourage action now that could be beneficial later. Here in B.C., we face 57 known hazards, ranging from wildfires, to earthquakes, tsunamis and chemical spills. “In my constituency of Chilliwack, the potential threat of flooding on the Fraser River looms each spring. Last year in the Greendale area, a mixture of heavy rain and melting snow on frozen ground caused homes, farms and fields to flood. On the hillsides, mudslides were triggered and sadly a couple homes were lost. A local state of emergency was declared. Residents and volunteers came together to prepare and pile sandbags and help one another out. “But how many of us have taken the time to prepare for emergencies? Having an emergency survival kit that you can grab and go is just one simple thing you can do to prepare you and your family in the event of an emergency. “Many communities are hosting information sessions during Emergency Preparedness Week, which runs through May 8th, and I encourage all British Columbians to get prepared. There are also great resources online at www.pep.bc.ca and www.getprepared.ca. “Emergencies can happen at any time, so please, do your part and get prepared.” For a full transcript of John’s statement, visit the Hansard website. Get more information about John and his constituency at www.johnlesmla.bc.ca. -30- | |
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