Port Coquitlam, BC – May 11, 2022… Spring and summer seasonal hazards can happen anytime and anywhere, and the City is hosting a free Community Safety Townhall to help residents prepare for them.

Fire and Emergency Services staff are hosting a pilot Community Safety Townhall on May 25 from 7-8 p.m at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre – Mabbett Hall.

Community safety topics will include information on the new Alertable app (the City’s new Public Alerting System), flooding, heat wave and wildfire safety. Attendees can share questions to be answered by City staff during a Q&A period.

“Community safety is an important priority for Council and we’re excited to provide these resources for our residents. Natural disasters may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever we might face, whether natural or human-induced,” said Mayor Brad West. “Through initiatives like this, the city is supporting residents to become better prepared.”

Port Coquitlam residents must register to attend the Community Safety Townhall by May 22 at portcoquitlam.ca/safetytownhall.

The Community Safety Townhall is a first-of-its-kind in Port Coquitlam and provides residents with information and concrete actions they can take to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies.

“Nothing is more important than protecting the health and well-being of everyone,” said Cllr. Steve Darling, Council’s designate for community safety matters. “Every emergency is different. Since we can’t anticipate the exact nature of an emergency, we all need to prepare for a range of emergency situations.”

Based on the success of this townhall, inclusive of feedback and public interest, more townhalls will be coordinated to address other seasonal hazards going forward.

The City of Port Coquitlam continually prepares for and responds to emergencies, including extreme weather events such as heat domes and windstorms, wildfires, flooding, and earthquakes. Ongoing emergency planning work includes public education, training of staff and volunteers, participating in local and regional exercises, stockpiling equipment and resources, and preparing Emergency Support Services (ESS) that offer reception centres, lodging and other help after a disaster.

To sign up for the townhall, visit portcoquitlam.ca/safetytownhall. For more City emergency preparedness information and resources, visit portcoquitlam.ca/ep.

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MEDIA CONTACTS

Ximena Ibacache
Manager of Communications & Administrative Services
City of Port Coquitlam
Tel 604.927.5499
Email ibacachex@portcoquitlam.ca