Emergency Preparedness

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS! JOIN EMERGENCY SUPPORT SERVICES (ESS)

Where Can I Find Emergency Information?

The City of Merritt primarily publishes information about emergency events on the City Notices + Alerts webpage and by using Voyent Alert! mass notification service. Information about specific hazards in Merritt can also be found on the following webpages:

We also recommend visiting the following websites in order to get accurate information about ongoing emergency events:

Questions about emergency preparedness in Merritt?

Contact the Emergency Management Coordinator

Phone: 778-921-0359
Email: emergency@merritt.ca

PreparedBC Guides

PreparedBC offers a wide variety of downloadable guides and fill-in-the-blank plans to help you and your family prepare for emergencies. Some of the key guides available from PreparedBC include:

Most guides are also available in multiple languages, including Français (French), 简体中文 (Simplified Chinese), 繁體中文 (Traditional Chinese), and ਪੰਜਾਬੀ (Punjabi).

Voyent Alert!

Voyent Alert! is a mass notification service that can send you emergency alerts via SMS text message, landline and cell phone call, email, and mobile application notification. You must be registered with Voyent Alert! in order to receive alerts. Registering with Voyent Alert! usually only takes a few minutes.

You can configure Voyent Alert! so that you only receive notifications on the devices of your choosing as well as only receive notifications that are relevant to your specific location. While Voyent Alert! does have a mobile app, you are not required to install the app on your device in order to receive notifications.

Both the City of Merritt and the Thompson-Nicola Regional District (TNRD) subscribe to the Voyent Alert! service and Merritt community members may register to receive Voyent Alert! notifications from the City of Merritt, the TNRD, or both.

Grab-and-Go Bags and Household Emergency Kits

A grab-and-go bag is intended to make sure that you and your family have essential items ready if you need to evacuate in a hurry. Items such as basic toiletries, a phone charger, and insurance documents are often part of a grab-and-go bag. Pre-made grab-and-go bags are available for purchase; however, it is easy to assemble a grab-and-go bag yourself. If you cannot afford a grab-and-go bag, writing down a list of important items that you would want to remember to have with you in an evacuation is an excellent idea.

A household emergency kit is similar to a grab-and-go bag but is intended to support you and your family remain inside your home for up to 72 hours when there is no power or water available. Items such as a battery-powered lantern and supply of bottled water are often part of a household emergency kit.

PreparedBC has produced several guides overviewing how individuals and households can prepare both grab-and-go bags and household emergency kits.

Download a Grab-and-Go Bag Checklist

FireSmart

FireSmart is Canada’s primary wildfire resiliency program. FireSmart BC’s website contains a wide variety of resources and information regarding how you can prepare for wildfire and FireSmart your home or business.

In Merritt, FireSmart is managed by Merritt Fire Rescue Department. More information regarding the FireSmart program in Merritt, including how you can receive a 50% rebate for certain FireSmart project costs and how to book a free FireSmart home assessment, may be found at merritt.ca/firesmart.

Contact the FireSmart Coordinator

Reporting an Emergency and Receiving Assistance

Police, ambulance, and fire emergencies should be reported by calling 911. However, some other phone numbers may also be good to have available. The following table lists useful phone numbers:

Organization	Phone Number
BC Crime Stoppers	1-800-222-8477
BC Drug and Poison Information Centre	1-800-567-8911
BC Evacuee Helpline	1-800-387-4258
BC SPCA Animal Helpline	1-855-622-7722
Canadian Red Cross (CRC)	1-800-863-6582
DriveBC	511 or 1-800-550-4997
HealthLinkBC	811
Merritt RCMP Non-emergency Line	250-378-4262
Report a Natural Gas Emergency	1-800-663-9911
Report a Power Outage	1-888-769-3766
Report a Wildfire	*5555 or 1-800-663-5555
Report an Environmental Emergency	1-800-663-3456
Suicide Crisis Helpline	988

Emergency Support Services

Emergency Support Services (ESS) is a volunteer organization that helps deliver basic supports, such as food and accommodations, to people who are impacted by emergencies. Most emergency survivors that ESS assists are evacuees. ESS may refer evacuees to specific businesses so that they may receive assistance or else provide direct financial support via Interac e-Transfer.

You can download the BC Services Card mobile app and visit ess.gov.bc.ca to create an ESS profile. Creating an ESS profile will help you receive assistance faster if you are evacuated. You can create an ESS profile at any time regardless of whether or not you are under evacuation alert or order. You are still required to visit an ESS reception centre in order to complete the ESS registration process; however, creating an ESS profile will streamline this process. You can call the BC Evacuee Helpline at 1-800-387-4258 to receive help with creating an ESS profile.

Although it is not required to receive ESS assistance, configuring your personal banking so that you are able to receive Interac e-Transfers will allow you to receive direct assistance payments if you are evacuated. Money received via direct payment can then be used to purchase whatever supports best suit your specific needs.

The ESS program in Merritt relies on the support of both volunteers and local businesses. You can find more information regarding Merritt’s ESS program, including both how to volunteer with ESS and how to register your business as an ESS supplier, at merritt.ca/ess.

Create an ESS Profile

Air Quality Warnings

BC Air Quality can send you warnings via email and SMS text message when local air quality is forecasted to be poor. As Merritt does not have an Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) monitoring station, Merritt only receives air quality warnings for wildfire smoke. You can register to receive air quality warnings by visiting the BC Air Quality Subscription Service website at aqss.nrs.gov.bc.ca and subscribing to the “Nicola” air quality region.

Register Your Pets With the SPCA

Pet owners can become separated from their pets during a chaotic emergency event like an evacuation. The BC Society Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) Pet Registry can help identify your pets so that you can be reunited. Microchips and tattoos are typically used to register and identify pets.

Visit the BC Pet Registry Website

By Holly Ferris In Emergency Preparedness