How would we know?

[southy]

The westcoast continues to deal with their earthquake issues. The eastcoast is trying to get out from their hurricane. But, what if ... Penticton and the South Okanagan was dealt a major blow from Ma Nature? Can someone tell me how emergency services would notify us? I ask this question because:

a/ There is no LOCAL LIVE RADIO STATION. (Yes I understand morning show on all stations is live but other than that most programming is voicetracked either locally or out of Kelowna) Also, just heard the Country 100.7 has even gone so far as to get rid of their live receptionist. So when you call, you MIGHT get a human being (ie; Sales Rep, Announcer maybe in the morning, General Manager perhaps but that's about it). CBC Radio might be an option but what if power was out?

b/ Newspaper can't deliver emergency communications until after the fact.

c/ No local television (CHBC but doubt they would go live - what if power was out?)

d/ How would we know what it is happening and what we should be doing about it?

Does the City of Penticton and/or the RDOS have an emergency plan in place? What does it look like? I'm not aware of one. Are you? Where would you find out about it prior to an incident occurring?

Perhaps now would be a good time for both City and RDOS to bring this plan out to the public since awareness is high.

SImply wondering. Can anyone shed some light on this subject?

[glassmaster]

Unfortunately, I can't provide any information ... but I do share your concern Southy. I would like to know what the community has in place in the event of an eathquake or another disaster. I honestly don't know. How would they let the citizens know if a natural disaster was headed our way?

The situation in the US is a scary one because they (the US) were in a financial crisis before this hurricane ... now billions have been added. A country or a community without financial stability is a scary place to be.

[grammafreddy]

When you're as deeply in debt as the US is and know you will never, ever pay that debt off (let alone the interest), what's a few more billion or trillion?

[OnTheRoadAgain]

http://www.pep.bc.ca/index.html

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-c ... -prep.html

[OnTheRoadAgain]

http://www.pep.bc.ca/kids/kids.html

http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/kts/index-eng.aspx

[wanderingchef]

Carefull now. Being prepared is considered terrorism
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iD1T61oTrR8
http://www.infowars.com/national-guard- ... terrorists http://www.silverdoctors.com/national-g ... errorists/

[southy]

Thanks ontheroadagain ... appreciate the info.

[Glacier]

If a 7.7 earthquake hit Penticton, I have a feeling that most people would not need the government or local radio stations to tell them that a massive earthquake just hit. Could just be me though.

[livewire]

Glacier - that's hilarious!

(And BTW Southy, called a contact and was informed that the 100.7 receptionist retired and the 2-7 guy broadcasts live from Penticton)

[XT225]

Glacier - that's hilarious!

(And BTW Southy, called a contact and was informed that the 100.7 receptionist retired and the 2-7 guy broadcasts live from Penticton)

In defense of Southy, will they be replacing the receptionist and WHO broadcasts live after 7pm? Likely its put on autopilot for the night; how sad. Dennis wouldve informed the listeners of just about anything that happened locally, WHEN it happened. I know - get over it....now I would never know period as I dont listen to that station any longer.

[southy]

most people would not need the government or local radio stations to tell them that a massive earthquake just hit

Nope ... most people probably wouldn't need to be told a quake just hit. My concern though Glacier is what happens afterwards? Where and how does the communication come from? What emergency plans are in place to assist residents?
I do believe this was answered in a previous post.

[shakeman]

Below is the answer I got from CBC in Kelowna regarding their ability to continue broadcasting during a catastrophe.

'Thanks for the email and your question about whether CBC could continue to broadcast during a catastrophe. The short answer is yes.
Our studio has a backup generator. Our signal is beamed to a satellite, which then sends it out to local transmitters, which are also equipped with automatic generators that kick in during a power outage. So for CBC to go off the air, there has to be a series of faults all along the way. It's a pretty good system.
I hope that answers your question!
Thanks again for writing,'

And three links to RDOS plans for disaster. The second has some good information outlining what individuals can do to be prepared. The third is a detailed 188 page emergency plan.

http://www.rdos.bc.ca/index.php?id=399

http://www.rdos.bc.ca/index.php?id=612

http://www.rdosmaps.bc.ca/min_bylaws/Co ... S_ERRP.pdf

An article from the Oliver Times in 2006 about their approval of the RDOS plan at the time. I include it because it mentions some shortcomings in the 2003 plan so the RDOS has had a plan for at least a decade.

http://www.osoyoostimes.com/news/2006/0 ... ices-plan/

Some Federal and BC government information on the topic.

http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/ ... x-eng.aspx

http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/ ... x-eng.aspx

http://www.pep.bc.ca/index.html

Last is a report from 2006 for the city of Summerland assessing their vulnerability to various disasters.

http://www.summerland.ca/docs/docs_form ... report.pdf

Government agencies have plans for emergencies but they are, at best, half a plan if individuals aren't prepared. Some families, most I hope, have a home evacuation plan in case of fire. The same should apply to disaster planning. Be prepared in the ways outlined in some of the information above to best assure you and yours getting through a disaster safely.

[ToddT]

There's always Twitter. It's more up to date than any media source.

[sale4u]

With Harpers cutbacks to the CBC can they afford the gas for the back up generator? Just ask'n!
Some good reads mentioned, thanks.

[southy]

Actually most if not all radio stations have back up generators. Only problem that remains is if there was a major incident with power down how many people would actually have battery operated radio's to receive transmissions?