We are establishing the Village of Lytton Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (VOLPP) to support our neighbours to prepare for emergencies and disasters in the community.
In a major disaster, first responders may be overwhelmed and may not be able to get to you for some time. First responders have priority response goals set out through the BC Emergency Management System.
With this in mind, it is important to be prepared for a minimum of 72 hours, but ideally for a week or more. Working with neighbours allows you to build up your own resilience through resource and skills sharing, you will all fare better than remaining as independent households.
How it works
The Village is offering presentations, at no charge, to any interested resident or group in the Village of Lytton to learn about the program.
If you choose to join the VOLPP team, you can receive emergency preparedness training.
The Lytton Emergency Program Committee, working collaboratively with the Thompson-Nicola Regional District, and neighbouring First Nations, will provide free emergency preparedness courses to help residents prepare to survive on their own for at least 72 hours after a major disaster, such as a power outage, severe storm, debris slide, or wildfire.
Personal preparedness is a key component of the VOLPP. The more residents can take care of themselves after a major emergency, the more the emergency response resources can be directed to restoring community services.
What training includes
Training sessions will focus on setting up a neighbourhood team, including the following response units:
- Shelter and care giving
- Communications and transportation
- Light urban search and rescue
- Utilities and fire suppression
- Disaster first aid
- Damage assessment
Benefits of joining the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program team
Joining the Village of Lytton Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program team means that you will:
- Not be alone in a time of disaster
- Be better prepared to act quickly and appropriately in any situation
- Be better informed about how to take care of yourself and loved ones until help arrives
- Be able to identify and minimize existing hazards around your home and neighbourhood
- Understand what items are recommended to gather and how to store them
- Be prepared if you are required to evacuate your neighbourhood
- Have a communication plan
- Know where to get accurate information on the situation
- Know who to go to in your neighbourhood for specific skills or resources
- Have peace of mind and increased confidence in your disaster resilience and self-sufficiency
- Have built relationships with neighbours and planned how to come together with shared resources and supplies
Get in touch
If you want to learn more, email Jim MacDonald, the Village's emergency management consultant at jmacdonald@lytton.ca to schedule a free presentation for your or any group in the Village of Lytton.
The Village is actively seeking more members to join the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program team.