|
Most people living here in one of the world’s most earthquake-prone regions have given some thought to earthquake preparedness. The wild winter storms of the last year may even have prompted you to put aside a few emergency supplies—candles, water, canned food, a wind-up radio—in case of a major power outage.
Did you know, though, that an “all hazards” approach is considered the best way to prepare for a crisis? “‘All hazards’ means that you’re prepared for most emergency situations and that your emergency kits are flexible enough to help you survive everything from floods to earthquakes to prolonged power outages,” says UVic Emergency Planner Daphne Donaldson.
In the weeks leading up to Emergency Preparedness Week (May 4–7), Donaldson will be working with Gayle Gorrill, vice-president finance and operations, to help Gorrill increase her personal preparedness at home and at work. We’ll be sharing more of their story here in the May issue of The Ring.
Gorrill is keen to help Donaldson educate the campus community, as her own portfolio includes oversight of the university’s emergency management program.
“As relative newcomers to Victoria (and to an earthquake zone and wild storms) our family knows that we need to do more but are not exactly sure what to do to be prepared,” Gorrill says. “We have done some things—extra food, emergency generator, wind-up flashlights in easily accessible places—but I know we can, and should, do more.”
Gorrill challenges other staff and faculty on campus to learn along with her, and increase their own level of preparedness. Stay tuned for more information, and visit the website for more details about UVic’s emergency management program.
|
