In the wake of the fire that devastated Fort McMurray, St. Albert Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) is working to inform potential volunteers about the St. Albert Emergency Reception Centre.
“It’s important for people to know about being personally prepared for any kind of an emergency and once you’re personally prepared then you’re in a better position to be able to help others,” emergency management co-ordinator Colleen Lamble said Thursday at an information session for potential volunteers.
She said some of the key things to do to prepare for emergencies are to know the risks that are in the area, make a plan and practice the plan. She also stressed the importance of making a list of irreplaceable goods and things that would be essential in an emergency situation.
“Think about the things that are important to you, think about making a list because if you don’t think about it prior to an emergency then you’re – in the heat of the moment –not going to be able to remember those kind of things.”
Lamble suggested creating a 72-hour kit for emergencies and reviewing the items in the kit at least twice a year.
After receiving a better understanding of emergency preparedness, the potential volunteers at the session learned that the emergency reception centre needs help with registration and inquiry, hospitality, support services, pet care, food and lodging, clothing and blankets, transportation and technology and security.
Lamble said volunteers are vital to the success of the centre.
“We don’t have enough staff in the city if we had to operate it for more than 24 hours, we need to have volunteers to help,” she said. “And then it’s all those little things like the support that volunteers and neighbours can give, it’s important when people are in need.”
Two of the most common misconceptions about emergencies stem from people believing that emergencies will never happen where they live and that they are short-lived, Lamble said, so it’s important to keep a constant conversation about emergency preparedness circulating so that people are always aware of what to do and what the risks are.
The St. Albert Emergency Reception Centre was set up at Servus Place for evacuees during the Wood Buffalo wildfire crisis. Supplies are stored in the building and ready for use if needed, said FCSS social master plan co-ordinator Debi Skoye.
A second volunteer information session is scheduled for June 22 at 6:30 p.m. at Servus Place. For more information contact FCSS at 780-495-1756.
