Emergency Management

The Canadian Disaster Database (CDD) contains detailed disaster information on more than 1000 natural, technological and conflict events (excluding war) that have happened since 1900 at home or abroad and that have directly affected Canadians.

This site provides links to the History of the Canadian Red Cross Society, Fundraising, News, Kids' Zone, Community Publications and Services.

Public Safety Canada helps Canadians and their communities protect themselves from emergencies and disasters related to all kinds of hazards – natural, human-induced and technological – through national leadership in the development and implementation of policies, plans and a range of programs.

DRIE is a non-profit organization with affiliate chapters throughout the world. The mission of DRIE is to promote business continuity planning, computer recovery planning, crisis management and other related disciplines as integral components of an effective business strategy. This includes appropriate integration with risk management protocols.

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) is a world-class centre for multi-disciplinary disaster prevention research and communication. ICLR was established by Canada’s property and casualty (p&c) insurance industry as an independent, not-for-profit research institute affiliated with Western University. Institute staff and research associates are international leaders in wind and seismic engineering, atmospheric science, risk perception, hydrology, economics, geography, health sciences, public policy and a number of other disciplines.

Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada. Learn how quick and easy it is to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. Use this guide to create your own emergency plan. Use the checklists to build a 72-hour emergency kit. These basic steps
will help you take care of yourself and your loved ones during an
emergency.

The Business Continuity Institute (BCI) was established in 1994 to enable members to obtain guidance and support from fellow business continuity practitioners. Through its Certification Scheme, the Institute provides internationally recognised status to its members as professional membership of the BCI demonstrates the members’ competence to carry out business continuity management (BCM) to a consistent high standard.

The Business Continuity Planners Association (BCPA), based in Minneapolis-St. Paul, is a non-profit, mutual benefit association of business professionals responsible for, or participating in, business recovery, crisis management, emergency management, contingency planning, disaster preparedness planning, or a related professional vocation.

A not-for-profit organization dedicated to strengthening security and business continuity in commercial zones. CSARN develops and optimizes public-private partnerships; bringing together the expertise of business, police and government communities.

Provides a constantly updated one-stop resource of business continuity news, jobs and information.

The Business Continuity Forum provides independent advice, information and support to the private and public sectors for all the issues and challenges of Risk Management and Business Continuity covering Disaster Recovery, Crisis Management, Emergency Planning and Cyber Security with the aim of improving your Organisational Resilience.

The GUIDE is the most comprehensive source for crisis/emergency management and business continuity information. The online DISASTER RESOURCE GUIDE is set up to help you find information, vendors, organizations and many resources to help you prepare for (mitigate) or recover from any type of natural or other type of disaster.

Here you will find software to assist with BIA and risk analysis, as well as links to tools/services to help you create, maintain and audit the plan itself.

Disaster Recovery Institute International (DRI) is the nonprofit that helps organizations around the world prepare for and recover from disasters by providing education, accreditation, and thought leadership in business continuity and related fields.

An organization dedicated to the exchange of ideas within the business continuity and disaster recovery industry.

ICOR is a not-for-profit education and credentialing organization that provides professional development, certification, thought-leadership, and the latest in research and industry trends.

The Institute for Catastrophic Loss Reduction (ICLR) is a world-class centre for multi-disciplinary disaster prevention research and communication. ICLR was established by Canada’s property and casualty (p&c) insurance industry as an independent, not-for-profit research institute affiliated with Western University.

Resilient Organisations is a research and consulting group focused on helping organisations, industries, and economies to thrive in any environment.

Conferences, training opportunities, documents and articles, organizations, and laws. Also has resources organized by region of the Pacific Northwest.

Prepared by Natural Resources Canada, Earth Sciences Section, this site offers general earthquake information as well as links to Recent Earthquakes, Historic Events, Earthquake Hazard, Be Prepared! and Stations and Data. Publications are available in the Products and Research.

The Earthquake Engineering Research Center (EERC) and the Pacific Earthquake Engineering Research Center (PEER) merged and the combined organization is now called PEER. The PEER mission is to develop and disseminate technologies to support performance-based earthquake engineering (PBEE).

The Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) is an organization dedicated to reducing impacts of earthquakes and volcanic eruptions in the states of Washington and Oregon by providing accurate and fast information about earthquakes and ground motions to scientists, engineers, planners, and the public. Valuable links to charts, catalogs and maps of historic as well as the most recent Pacific Northwest earthquakes.

Site includes information on the latest quakes, a hazards and preparedness section, and pages providing additional background about earthquakes, information on studying earthquakes and a good guide to both on-line and off-line resources.

Floodplain maps identify areas that experience periodic flooding from nearby rivers, lakes, streams and the sea and provide information on the spatial distribution of flood construction levels.
These areas are designated as floodplains. Floodplain maps show the location of the normal channel of a water course, surrounding features or developments, ground elevation contours, flood levels and floodplain limits—the elevation and horizontal extent of the high water marks of a 200-year flood.

Available from the BC Ministry of Environment, Water Stewardship Division, information on Floodplains in BC, Reducing Flood Threats and Reducing Flood Damage. Provides contact phone numbers and address.

Floods are the most frequent natural hazard in Canada. They can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of a thick snow pack, ice jams, or more rarely, the failure of a natural or man-made dam. Learn about floods and the Flood Damage Reduction Program.

In 2014 the Lower Mainland Flood Management Strategy (LMFMS) initiative was launched to better protect communities along the lower Fraser River and south coast — from Hope to Richmond and from Squamish to White Rock — from risks of a major flood. Participants in the LMFMS have responsibilities or interests related to flood management and include the Government of Canada, the Province of British Columbia, Lower Mainland local governments and several non-governmental entities in the region.

BC Centre for Disease Control (BCCDC) is an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority that focuses on preventing and controlling communicable disease and promoting environmental health for the province. Health Alerts are provided on this site as well as information about diseases and their prevention and control.

The Emergency Management Unit is a division of the BC Ministry of Health that exists to ensure that the provincial health system is capable of planning for, responding to and recovering from the impacts of extreme events, whether natural, accidental or intentional in nature.

The Centre for Emergency Preparedness and Response is Canada's central coordinating point for public health security issues.

During an emergency or disaster, the governments protects and assists the Canadian public. The governments deal with the possible risks from: Natural events and disasters such as outbreaks of disease, floods, earthquakes, fires and tornadoes; Emergencies such as transportation accidents, large chemical spills, nuclear incidents, power outages and terrorist threats.

The Disaster Psychosocial Services Program is responsible for the development and provision of psychosocial strategies.

From Mental Health America. It is ‘normal’ to have difficulty managing your feelings after major traumatic events. However, if you don’t deal with the stress, it can be harmful to your mental and physical health. Here are some tips for coping in these difficult times.

David Baldwin's Trauma Information Pages. Here, you'll find mental health handouts as well as links to external disaster web sites, disaster mental health guides, and other informative materials useful in assisting disaster victims.

The target group for WHO work on mental health and psychosocial support in emergencies is any population exposed to extreme stressors, such as refugees, internally displaced persons, disaster survivors and terrorism-, war- or genocide-exposed populations.

WHO-recommended psychological first aid involves humane, supportive and practical help to people who are suffering after a crisis. This support should be provided to people in ways that respect their dignity, culture and abilities. It covers both social and psychological support.

Represents 80 Search and Rescue groups in British Columbia, consisting of over 2500 volunteers.

The CAA provides various services to its professional members and Public Safety Services to the public. Links to Avalanche Information Bulletin, Trip Planner, Weather Forecasts and Satellite Images.

The National Search and Rescue Secretariat (NSS) is responsible for managing and coordinating Canada's search and rescue with federal, provincial and territorial partners, and fostering interoperability and coordination within the search and rescue (SAR) community and its 18,000 trained SAR volunteers.

If you live in coastal British Columbia, know your tsunami notification zone , then get prepared to manage on your own for a minimum of 72 hours. Start by developing a household plan, putting together your emergency kit and connecting with your neighbours.

Administered by the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO, this site provides information about tsunamis including safety preparedness, the warning signs of a tsunami and what to do before and after a tsunami.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Research Center conducts research in support of improved measurement technology and the design of optimal tsunami monitoring networks in order to develop methods and tools to reduce tsunami hazard and protect life. This site includes links to publications, tsunami modeling, and tsunami forecasting.

The Volcanoes of the World database provides a catalog of Holocene and Pleistocene volcanoes, and eruptions from the past 10,000 years.

Provides information and links about volcanoes and the location of Canada's volcanoes.

BCITS works with people who have severe physical disabilities and helps them to live as well and as independently as possible. BCITS is the home of two main programs:The Provincial Respiratory Outreach Program (PROP) that provides equipment and a wide range of supports to people who use ventilators and other respiratory equipment, and The Technology for Independent Living Program (TIL) that provides technology to assist with communication and with managing devices in the home. Visit their Learning Centre section that provides vital information on Emergency Planning.

Disability Alliance BC (formerly The BC Coalition of People with Disabilities) has been working collaboratively with a broad network of disability organizations and people with disabilities to build relationships with the emergency management sector. This site provides online access to full-text reports specific to emergency planning and people-at-risk.

This guide was prepared by Public Safety Canada in collaboration with Emergency Management Ontario. It is based on the Government of Ontario's publication, Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs – a cooperative effort between twenty public and private organizations who were consulted for their subject matter expertise and special insights.

During and after disasters, violence against women increases and it is more difficult for women to obtain help. This workbook helps agencies develop an emergency response plan.

It’s important for everyone to be prepared by knowing the risks in their community, having a household plan and having an emergency kit.
Having a disability means you likely need to consider preparedness actions above and beyond the “basics”.

From the NFPA, Safety planning for people with disabilities.

From Environment and Natural Resources Canada. Includes air quality, alerts, marine weather and seasonal forecasts.

From Environment and Natural Resources Canada.

The River Forecast Centre analyses snow pack, assesses seasonal water supply and flood risk, and predicts flows in British Columbia’s rivers and streams. It produces a range of bulletins, maps and warnings to inform emergency managers and the public about current and upcoming streamflow conditions.

From the Provice of British Columbia, Ministry of Forests and Range, Wildfire Management Branch, provides information on the current wildfire situation, restrictions, fire danger rating, fire weather and more.

Prepared by Natural Resources Canada Canadian Forest Service, this site offers a Canadian Forest Fire Danger Rating System. Includes a Weather Index System, Behavior Prediction System, and Occurrence Statistics (1918 to current year). Links to a Report on the National Forest Fire Situation, which is updated weekly.

The Canadian governments, and other relevant agencies, have increased concerns about individual and community preparedness for disasters, which are defined as the impact from natural hazards, technological hazards or conflict (not including war). Wildfires are particularly worrisome because they have affected 250 communities and 700,000 individuals in Canada in the last ten years.

The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) is a non-profit, professional association representing members of the global wildland fire community. The purpose of the association is to facilitate communication and provide leadership for the wildland fire community. Provides Membership information, International News, Employment information, Bookstore and a searchable online Library. Current Titles in Wildland Fire magazine are available to review.

The Canadian Disaster Database (CDD) contains detailed disaster information on more than 1000 natural, technological and conflict events (excluding war) that have happened since 1900 at home or abroad and that have directly affected Canadians.

The DIRMC is part of the National Library of Medicine's (NLM) Specialized Information Services Division, and works to collect, organize, and make available resources and research related to disasters of all types, from hurricanes and earthquakes to terrorist actions to disease outbreaks.

EM-DAT contains essential core data on the occurrence and effects of over 18,000 mass disasters in the world from 1900 to present. The database is compiled from various sources, including UN agencies, non-governmental organisations, insurance companies, research institutes and press agencies.

The FEMA Library is a searchable web-based collection of all publicly accessible FEMA information resources, including: CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, audio tapes, disability resources, posters and display items, brochures, publications, guidance and policy papers, program regulations and guidelines, forms, slide presentations, and some documents.

The UNISDR Library is an information centre for disaster risk reduction with over 10,000 publications, multimedia products and education resources.