Emergency Preparedness
Listed below are some links to help guide for additional information regarding the different types of insurance and helpful tips such as protecting your home, insuring your automobile and emergency preparedness
Insurance
- The Insurance Brokers Association of British Columbia
- Insurance Council of BC
- BC Crime Prevention
- How to protect your car from theft
Emergency Preparedness
- Emergency Preparedness
- Fire Commissioner
- How to prevent fire in your home
- Home Safety Kit Recommendations – CRD, Provincial and Red Cross
Emergency Management Planning in B.C.
Multi-agency hazard plans for B.C. are prepared and updated regularly by Emergency Management BC to ensure an effective strategy is in place to address many possible types of emergencies and disasters. These plans foster cooperation among multiple organizations focusing on public safety, infrastructure and property protection and managing the aftermath of events.
For more information about provincial hazard planning click here…
Emergency Preparedness for Your Family
Each year, thousands of people face emergency situations that could change their lives forever. Don’t be caught off-guard. Know the hazards in your area and take the time to assemble your family emergency kit.
During an emergency, you and your family could be on your own for an extended period of time. Emergency services may not be readily available, as increasing demands are placed on responders. It may take emergency workers some time to get to you as they help those in most critical need. As well, access to phones, gas, water, sewer and electrical services may be cut off. Learn More…
Water Damage
Water damage can strike unexpectedly and often results in expensive repair bills. Current estimates indicate that the Canadian insurance industry pays $1.7 billion each year in claims due to water damage.
What can you do to protect yourself?
Going away?
If it is for more than three days, have someone check your property. In the winter, drain the plumbing or have someone check daily that the heat is still on in your home. Get someone from Magna Mechanical to help you.
Location, Location, Location
Store important documents and irreplaceable personal items away from flood-prone areas. Keep hazardous materials like paint, oil and cleaning supplies out of the basement. Have an emergency preparedness kit for each person and/or pet in your household in an easily accessible location to help you get through the first 72 hours of a disaster.
Backup Plans
Create an emergency plan for your family, including where you would go if your home was flooded.
If the area in which you live is prone to flooding or sewer backups click here for a few tips that could keep your home safer.
Courtesy of the Insurance Bureau of Canada
Don’t forget to doublecheck your homeowner’s policy. Sewer backup is not automatically covered on all policies. If you’re not sure, contact us and we’ll review and make recommendations to make sure that you’re covered.
Fall and Winter Driving
We may not suffer the amount snow that the rest of Canada plows through each winter, but winter driving still requires care and caution.
Fall and Winter Driving
Before you hit the road here are some tips:
- Prepare your vehicle for winter with a visit to your local mechanic
- Ensure that your vehicle, tires and brakes are in good repair
- Pack an emergency kit
- Learn how to handle your vehicle if it hits black ice or starts to hydroplane.
- Plan your trip and check road and weather conditions before leaving, be aware that you may be facing rain and snow depending on the trip
- Give yourself extra travel time in bad weather
- Travel with a fully charged cellphone
- Avoid using cruise control on slippery roads.
It’s snowing… what do I do?
Ice, snow, slippery highways… driving in winter conditions can be both challenging and frustrating. Here are some helpful tips to keep you and your loved ones safer on the road.
Feeling uneasy about driving? You’re not alone. According to an ICBC survey, almost four in 10 of respondents feel less confident driving during the winter. In addition, seven in 10 feel less safe and frustrated by the actions of other drivers.
Staying off the road can sometimes be a less stressful and safer option.
Instead of driving, you may want to consider taking public transit if available, carpooling with a friend who’s a confident driver, taking a taxi or working from home.
If you’re feeling confident
If your vehicle is equipped for the weather and you’re feeling confident, remember to take extra precautions on the road.
Plan ahead and always check road and weather conditions on drivebc.ca before heading out.
Be sure to leave more following distance, slow down, and give yourself more time to get where you’re going. Speed limits are set for ideal conditions only.
And always take care, nothing is more important than arriving safely at your destination.
More fall and winter driving tips on safe driving from ICBC
Healthy Habits
Get moving. Today’s sedentary lifestyle is not helping keep Victorians feeling their best.
Many people may not know that exercise does more for you than just help you lose weight or build muscle. Regular physical activity is a prescription for helping decrease stress; relieve depression, anxiety, heartburn and constipation; increase happiness; improve your love life and fitness level; and, prevent diabetes, heart disease, weight gain, osteoporosis and cancer. Some procedures like smas facelift brings the same glow to the face, as exercise does. Ask your medical professional about fighting diabetes without medication in case it’s needed.
Experts recommend that adults over the age of 18 need to be physically active 30-60 minutes, most days of the week, to stay healthy. Physical activity doesn’t need to be hard. Any effort you expend, especially if you are just starting out, will help. Even just a few minutes a day can improve your health and generate feelings of well-being. Every little bit counts.
Start small and build physical activities into your daily routine. Here’s a 10 minute plan to get things moving:
- Park the car 10 minutes from where you are going
- Dance to your favourite music for 10 minutes each day
- Take the stairs instead of the escalator
- Take a 10-minute stretching break at work – set a reminder alarm to help
- Walk or bike to work
- Get off the bus 10 minutes from where you work
Check out Health Canada’s Get Active Tip Sheet on how you and your family can take a step in the right direction. And don’t forget Healthy Eating as a foundation for the new you.