Volunteers for Emergency Social Services (ESS) were in full force at the Farmer's Market recently.
"With the fires in Ft. McMurray and Ft. Saint John, we had a lot more people coming to our trailer and they were asking questions and taking our brochures, says ESS director Liz Jones.
"We have only had 2,000 people signed up for the Emergency Notification System (ENS), that's not a lot of people for the Cariboo Regional District (CRD)."
She explains the ENS takes in Quesnel, Wells, Williams Lake and 100 Mile House area.
This system is a free service that allows folks to receive notifications by phone, text messaging and e-mail. People can choose to receive notifications about emergencies that may affect their home, workplace, schools and more, Jones says.
"This system works very well, but the registration has to be filled in online and some people are frustrated with that.
"The information is very personal specific, it's not shared with any one and is only used for emergency notifications."
There are places in town that offer help for people filling out the online forms, including the District of 100 Mile office at 385 Birch Ave., and the 100 Mile Branch Library at 449 Birch Ave.
Jones notes she also holds meetings at various groups, including community clubs, where she explains the ENS and can have computers to help folks with the application.
People will not get these emergency notifications if they don't register, and would have to rely on television or radio and possibly Internet services.
Everyone should have a plan and list of things to do displaced in a prominent place for emergencies, Jones says, adding when folks are in the midst of the crisis it's very likely they will forget important items.
"There is less fear if you have a plan."
She also suggests people have a bag packed for all members of the family, which include medications, food, extra glasses and clothing. Also, remember the family pets' needs, including food, water and their medicines.
"One of the questions I get is what to do with their insulin, which needs to stay cool. I suggest keeping the medication in a small cooler bag in the fridge.
People can use it that way on a daily basis, and if there is an emergency, it's already packed to go, throw an ice pack in if you can."
For more information, call Jones at 250-706-2720, CRD at 1-800-665-1636 or its website at www.cariboord.bc.ca.
