Are you ready for anything (yet)?

In March, Vice-President Finance & Operations Gayle Gorrill signed on for the task of increasing her personal preparedness at home and at work in the weeks leading up to Emergency Preparedness Week (May 4-10, 2008).

On the advice of University Emergency Planner Daphne Donaldson, Gorrill and her family conducted an inventory of the emergency supplies they already had on hand, and took concrete steps to improve their preparedness for an emergency event.

Gorrill found that simply “discussing emergency preparedness with my family was the most meaningful activity we did. We discovered that it doesn’t take a lot of time—we accomplished a lot in 15 minutes—but you need to take the time.”

Gorrill had already collected some emergency supplies at home, including emergency food and water, a first aid kit and other items such as candles, matches and a wind-up flashlight. Her hot water tank was secured in a closet, and she had considered emergency food supplies for Cava, the family’s golden retriever.

When Gorrill and her family checked their home for smoke detectors, they tested the two they found to ensure they were functioning properly. She plans to investigate whether two detectors are sufficient, considering the type and location in the home. “Smoke detectors are the single most important emergency purchase—they’re a relatively easy and cost effective way of protecting your family,” she notes.

Gorrill also established an out-of-town contact for her family, using an easy-to-remember phone number, and discussed a family meeting place and evacuation routes.

Over the next few weeks, Gorrill and her family plan to check off the following items on their emergency preparedness to-do list:

Re-organize the emergency supplies into a large container and relocate it to a more accessible location.

Develop a plan to rotate food supplies and check the contents of the first aid kit (to replace used or expired items).

Photocopy important documents and store them in a secure place with family photos (including a photo of the family with Cava so they can prove ownership).

Replace existing smoke alarms, determine if and where more are needed, and learn about using fire extinguishers.

Gorrill challenges other staff and faculty on campus to take action to increase their own level of preparedness. Visit the website at http://ohs.uvic.ca/emergencymgmt/index.html or contact University Emergency Planner Daphne Donaldson at 721-6355 for a Preparedness 101 checklist and more details about UVic’s emergency management program.