March 28, 2000

 

Volunteers Wanted for Emergency Shelter Exercises

Vancouver residents are invited to learn more about what to do during a disaster when the City’s Emergency Social Services team holds exercises and displays on:

Saturday, April 1
1 - 4:30 p.m

at the following community centres:

• The Roundhouse - 181 Roundhouse Mews (Davie and Pacific)

• Douglas Park - 801 West 22nd Avenue

• Kitsilano - 2690 Larch Street

• Renfrew Park - 2929 East 22nd Avenue

The community centres will demonstrate how they’d operate as reception centres in a major emergency such as an earthquake. If a disaster struck, residents could go to their local community centre for temporary shelter and help.

Visitors to the exercises may volunteer to act as evacuees in mock emergency scenarios or just drop by for information. Volunteers will be shown what services and amenities, such as food, lodging, and outreach agencies, would be at their disposal. Various emergency personnel will also present displays on first aid, equipment and supplies that may be used in a disaster.

The Roundhouse will conduct the largest scale emergency exercise of the four centres. A company that provided emergency shelters after the recent earthquakes in Turkey will set up tents as group lodging. Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services will hold a class on personal emergency preparedness at 3:30 p.m. As well, visitors can check out a display on the City’s salt water pumping station, which has been specially constructed to provide high-pressure water flows for fighting fires, particularly after a major disaster.

The Emergency Social Services headquarters will be activated at the E-Comm (emergency communications) building at 3301 East Pender Street during the exercises. Debriefing or evaluation sessions will be held between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. at all locations.

 

For more information:

Bryan Larrabee
Park Board
257-8620

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(c) 2000 City of Vancouver