Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhere—often without warning. As the City of Vernon marks Emergency Preparedness Week, it’s an opportunity for both the City and the community to take proactive steps to prepare for wildfire and emergency season.
This year’s national and provincial themes highlight that preparedness is a shared responsibility—one that begins at home and extends across the entire community.
In Vernon, where hazards such as wildfires are a seasonal reality, being prepared is especially important. The City is encouraging residents to focus on three key steps:
Know the risks
Understanding the hazards specific to our region—particularly wildfires—helps residents make informed decisions and plan effectively. Reference the FireSmart BC Emergency Preparedness Checklist to best prepare your home.
Make a plan
Every household should have an emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, communication strategies, and meeting points. Plans should involve all members of the household, including pets, and be reviewed and updated regularly.
Resource the plan
Preparedness means having the right supplies on hand. This includes building an emergency kit with essentials and preparing a “grab-and-go” bag, especially important in communities like Vernon where evacuation may be required to ensure public safety. Creating a profile for Emergency Support Services with the Evacuee Registration and Assistance expedites emergency support during an evacuation.
To learn more about emergency preparedness plans and what other steps you can take this week, visit PreparedBC.ca or Getprepared.gc.ca.
Community preparedness in Vernon
To support community readiness, the City is also partnering with the Youth Climate Corps to host two upcoming Community Emergency Preparedness Workshops:
Community Workshop: Designed for residents looking to better understand how to prepare their households
Service Provider Workshop: Tailored for organizations and professionals supporting vulnerable populations and community response efforts
These sessions will provide practical tools, local insights, and guidance to help participants strengthen their emergency preparedness.
Emergency Preparedness Week is a timely reminder that the actions taken today can make a significant difference tomorrow. By working together, Vernon can continue to build a safe, resilient, and prepared community.
Predator Ridge siren & Alert Ready testing
On Wednesday, May 6 at 1:55 PM PDT, the Alert Ready Emergency Alert System will be tested province-wide, sending notifications across televisions, radios, and compatible cell phones to ensure the system is functioning as intended.
At the same time, the City of Vernon will be testing the emergency siren in the Predator Ridge area, which will sound for approximately three minutes, alternating between high and low-pitch tones.
This siren is part of a local initiative to improve communication during wildfire evacuations. No action is required from the public during the siren test.
Subscribe to our official emergency alert notification system
Alertable keeps the community informed during emergencies. Download the Alertable app to ensure you receive real-time alerts directly to your phone.
Learn more about emergency preparedness in Vernon.