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Emergency Management

Most emergencies in the North Okanagan are handled by first responders like police, the fire service, and paramedics. However, for larger emergencies such as floods, extreme weather, and wildfires, the RDNO Emergency Management Program helps ensure residents in Electoral Areas B, C, D E and F are prepared, safe and informed.

RDNO's Emergency Management Plan coordinates the response to and recovery from a significant emergency event or disaster through an Emergency Operation Centre (EOC). Personnel in the EOC are trained to investigate, plan and implement resources to help deal with the event and bring resources to those affected.

Four phases of Emergency Management

Mitigation

Measures taken to reduce the risk and impact of an emergency.

Preparedness

Plans to prepare for and cope with the impact of an emergency.

Response

Actions taken in direct response to an emergency.

Recovery

Return of evacuees, psychosocial support, financial assistance, and reconstruction.

Mitigation is the phase of emergency management in which proactive steps are taken to prevent a hazardous event by eliminating the hazard or reducing the potential impact of such an event before it occurs. As with all other emergency management activities, the goal of these efforts is to protect lives, property, and the environment and reduce economic and social disruption.
In a disaster, the resilience of government, communities, businesses, and families depends significantly on the continued functioning of our infrastructure. The RDNO maps, educate, and plans projects to mitigate against the failure of our infrastructure, such as the delivery of safe water. A homeowner's best defense is to ensure adequate insurance and maintain their property, such as implementing FireSmart suggestions.
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Any successful mitigation initiatives should be considered in the preparedness phase. If a hazard has been mitigated, preparedness efforts will focus on residual risk.
Preparedness, for RDNO, is the phase of emergency management during which action is taken to ensure that individuals, businesses, and the jurisdiction/organization are ready to undertake emergency response and recovery. It includes planning, resource planning, volunteer management, training, exercises, public/ stakeholder education, maintenance, and continuous improvement.
Preparedness, for an individual, is knowing the risks, making a preparedness plan that includes an emergency plan, and having an emergency kit on hand.
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The term “response” refers to actions taken in direct response to an imminent or occurring emergency/disaster to manage its consequences. This phase of emergency management involves measures to limit the loss of life, minimize suffering, and reduce personal injury and property damage. It also includes the initiation of plans and actions to support recovery.
There are eight response goals in order of priority;
1. Ensure the health and Safety of responders,
2. Save lives, reduce suffering,
3. Protect public health,
4. Protect Infrastructure,
5. Protect property,
6. Protect the environment, and
7. Reduce economic and social losses.
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Recovery is the phase following an emergency in which steps and processes are taken to repair and restore.
Recovery may consist of several stages (short-term, medium-term, and long-term) and works towards minimizing future damage to communities and the environment. Recovery is community-led, complex, and can take years to complete. It requires a collaborative effort from many partners.
There are many things an individual may be eager to do, such as assess the damage, recover documents, salvage belongings, and begin cleaning.
This guide will help you get started:
One Step at a Time, A Guide to Disaster Recovery.