Emergency Management

Every municipality and regional district in British Columbia is required to have an Emergency Management Program under the BC Emergency Program Act legislation. Learn more about our Emergency Plan.

In Vernon, our Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is activated to support first responders with additional resources once their initial capacity is exceeded. The EOC will also provide timely and accurate information to help keep you and your loved ones safe during emergencies.

Emergency Support Services (ESS) play a vital role in the immediate response to disasters, offering short-term assistance to individuals and families. ESS provides essential services such as food, lodging, clothing, and emotional support. They also help connect those affected by emergencies with resources to begin their recovery process, ensuring that individuals and families can get the help they need during a crisis.

The ESS program is currently looking for volunteers. For more information, please visit vernon.ca/ess.

When an emergency occurs, the EOC will provide updates through:

Alertable: our official emergency alert notification system
Email notifications: via the City of Vernon website

Stay informed
Sign up for email notifications and download the Alertable app to ensure you receive real-time alerts directly to your phone.

Know the risks for our region:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

During an emergency, essential services like water, power, phone, and internet may be unavailable. Being prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours is a crucial part of emergency readiness.

Create an emergency plan
Having a well-prepared emergency plan ensures everyone in your household knows what to do, who to contact, and how to stay safe in an emergency. Involve all family members in creating the plan and review it together regularly. Keep a copy in a place that’s easy to find and remember—consider keeping an extra copy in your vehicle for quick access.
- Learn how to make your emergency plan
Build your emergency kit
During an emergency situation, there are services we take for granted such as running water, refrigeration, telephone and cell service may be unavailable. Taking steps now to store food, water and other supplies in an emergency kit can provide households with the essentials needed during an emergency.

Depending on the event, the City may be able to provide advance notice in the form of an evacuation alert; however, in other cases residents may be required to leave immediately. Prepare a grab and go bag to keep in the front closet of your home or in your car.
- Learn how to build your emergency kit and a grab and go bag
To learn more about preparing for an emergency visit the PreparedBC website
- PreparedBC: Guides and Resources
- PreparedBC: Preparedness Resources for People with a Disability
As neighbourhoods can often be the first level of support for people in large emergencies, knowing your neighbours is an important step in household emergency planning. Neighbours working collaboratively with each other can develop capacity to take action until emergency responders take over the scene.

Knowing your neighbours also enables:
- Familiarity with each other to be better work together during an emergency
- An exchange of ideas about strengths and resources available to cope with the emergency
- Collaborative planning, including plans for pets that may be home alone when an emergency occurs
To learn more about neighbourhood emergency preparedness visit:
- PreparedBC: Neighbourhood Preparedness Guide
How it works
Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program presentations are offered through the City of Vernon Emergency Management Program to any neighbourhood, school, or interested group in Vernon. To arrange a presentation, contact the City of Vernon Emergency Management Services.
In the event of an emergency evacuation, one of the most important steps you can take to protect your pets is to evacuate them along with you. Since most emergency shelters cannot accommodate pets due to health and safety regulations, it’s essential to plan ahead. Take the time now to prepare for the possibility of having to find a safe place for your pets when you need to leave your home.
- Check with local hotels/motels to find out their pet policy and keep a list
- Ask friends or relatives, not located near your home, if they could shelter your animals
- Prepare a list of boarding facilities and veterinarians who could shelter animals
To learn more about planning for pets and livestock:
- PreparedBC: Pet Emergency Plan
- Alert Canada: Animal Lifeline Emergency Response Team
Residents and visitors of Vernon rely on local businesses and employers for essential goods, services, and economic stability—before, during, and after emergencies. That’s why it’s vital for businesses to be prepared to respond and recover quickly when an emergency occurs.
- Stay informed
  Sign up for emergency alerts through Alertable to receive real-time notifications that can help protect your business and staff
- Understand your risks
  Assess how local hazards could affect your operations, supply chain, customers, and employees
- Develop a Business Continuity Plan
  Outline how your business will continue operating during and after an emergency
- Prepare Your Team
  Create site-specific emergency plans and ensure employees are trained and equipped with emergency supplies
- Protect important records
  Store backups of critical documents and data off-site or in secure cloud storage
- Review insurance coverage
  Make sure your policies include protection against potential hazards and business disruptions
To learn more about preparedness for your business, visit:
- PreparedBC: Guide for Small Businesses
- PreparedBC: Guide for Tourism Operators
Businesses offering accommodations, food and personal care items enter supplier arrangements with Vernon Emergency Support Services for use during evacuations. Contact the City of Vernon Emergency Management Services to learn more about becoming a Vernon ESS Supplier.
Before, during and after emergencies, other organizations provide services to people and assist them to cope through emergencies. The Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) works with service organizations to help provide services to those people impacted by an emergency. During the recovery phase, the EOC may establish an Emergency Support Centre to facilitate centralized delivery of services to residents.

The City works closely with a number of service organizations that provide emergency preparedness, emergency response and/or emergency recovery services.

If you are a non-profit organization and/or have an emergency service mandate and wish to connect with the City, contact us at Emergency Management Services.