When the world is shaking, drop, cover and hold on! When it’s time to get out, just grab and go!

These and other emergency preparedness messages are  delivered through the power of song in Port Coquitlam schools and the community, thanks to a partnership between the City and local musician Sami Ghawi of FUSIONpresents.

Expect It. Have You Prepared?
Expect It. Have You Prepared? blends pop, rock, choral and even rap influences to promote emergency preparedness and the proper response to an earthquake (drop, cover and hold on). The song can be heard below:



Port Coquitlam schools will receive a package in January with a CD of the song, lyrics and piano score, a licence to use the song, and ideas for how to incorporate the song into their emergency preparedness curriculum.

The debut Port Coquitlam performance of Expect It. Have You Prepared? took place December 9 at the City’s annual appreciation dinner for its emergency preparedness volunteers. Close to 30 students in the Kilmer elementary choir, led by music teacher Greta Lajeunesse, performed the song with Tri-City musicians Ghawi, Nathalie Bernard and Daniel Yamamoto – and earned resounding applause from the audience of about 100.

Ghawi, a professional singer/songwriter, approached the City with the song idea in May after reading about the City’s EP program in the local newspaper. He worked with the City for three months to hone the lyrics before putting them to music. The recording features Ghawi, Bernard and Yamamoto, along with 35 students in the Kilmer elementary choir.

Contact:
Cheryl Lalonde
Emergency Program Officer
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel.: 604.927.5460
E-mail: lalondec@portcoquitlam.ca