Large-scale emergencies and disasters often seem remote, however, disasters, technological or environmental accidents, or service disruptions can happen anywhere, any time. Even the beautiful wilderness that surrounds Langford can generate risks such as fire or flood to residents and their property.
Langford’s Emergency Program is working hard to prepare for, respond to, and recover from major emergencies and disasters, and keep residents safe, but we could use your help. Here you can access information on common hazards in the area, and learn how to prepare yourself and your loved ones for whatever happens, and keep up to date on relevant information and emergency notifications.
The Emergency Program is responsible for:
Providing a plan for preserving life and property.
Coordinating response from elected officials, municipal departments, volunteer services and outside agencies.
Emergency planning
Training, resourcing and activating the municipal Emergency Operations Centre and liaising with provincial emergency management organizations
With our summer months getting hotter here are some tips on dealing with higher than average temperatures. For a map of cooling places around Langford, Colwood and View Royal, click here.
SPEND TIME IN A COOL PLACE. DRINK PLENTY OF WATER TO AVOID HEAT-RELATED ILLNESS.
Check in on Friends, Family and Neighbours – make sure they are staying cool and hydrated.
Keep Your Space Cool:
close blinds and curtains to block the sun
keep doors and windows closed between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm to trap cooler air inside
open windows at night to let cool air in
sleep in the coolest part of the residence
Dress For the Heat:
wear loose-fitting, light, breathable clothing
Signs of Heat Exhaustion – move to a cool place and drink water:
rapid breathing and heartbeat
muscle cramps
dark urine and decreased urination
dizziness or fainting
nausea or vomiting
heavy sweating
extreme thirst
skin rash
headache
Signs of Heat Stroke – Call 911 – Heat Stroke is a Medical Emergency. Move to a cool place or cool with water and fanning.
Did you know that during an emergency your neighbors are your first responders? Building relationships with your neighbours will help you cope during an emergency. Strong and connected neighbourhoods and communities are more resilient and recover more quickly following emergencies.
Here are some ways to connect as neighbours and become more prepared:
Develop a neighbourhood map identifying a muster station as well as other information that could be useful during an emergency such as people with pets, specific skills, and resources. Also note who may require extra assistance.
Learn together! For example, organize a first aid course for you and your neighbours, or take turns teaching skills you may have with others such as pruning trees or canning goods.
Create a neighbourhood tool library of supplies you can share every day as well as during emergencies.
Save money by bulk purchasing emergency supplies and kits together.
In the event of a major emergency, the City of Langford will open reception centres and group lodging facilities for people who have evacuated their homes and have nowhere else to go. If your home is safe to stay in, you have insurance that will cover your stay at a hotel, or you have family, friends, or neighbours you can stay with, then this should be your first course of action.
The Langford Emergency Support Services (ESS) Team is responsible for setting up Reception Centres at locations where evacuees are received, registered, and referred to depending on their needs. Group lodging facilities will have cots and blankets set up in large areas to accommodate evacuees for a longer period of time. Reception centres and group lodging sites will be set up in community halls, recreation centres, churches, gyms, and schools depending on the type of incident that has occurred. Reception centres are run by our local (ESS) volunteers. Information on reception centres and group lodging will be available on our social media channels in the event of an emergency.
Eagle Ridge Community Centre – 1089 Langford Parkway
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 91 – 761 Station Avenue
Crystal View Elementary – 2662 Silverstone Way
Happy Valley Elementary – 3291 Happy Valley Road
Lakewood Elementary – 2362 Setchfield Avenue
Willway Elementary – 2939 Mt Wells Drive
South Vancouver Island Rangers – 3498 Luxton Road
Sign up for West Shore Alert
In the event of a public safety incident, West Shore Alert will be used to deliver critical and potentially life-saving alerts to residents who have registered. This information can help you and your family know what to do, where to go and what to expect. This notification system will send alerts for public safety incidents such as earthquakes, wildfires, tsunamis or evacuation notices. On occasion you may receive a test notification to validate the system. Notifications will be received by: Home phone, cellphone, email, or text message. When a notification is issued, multiple attempts will be made for each telephone number you provided until you confirm receipt of the message. It is important to acknowledge that you have received the message. You will only receive notifications if you sign up for this service. If you choose not to sign up, information will still be made available through the City of Langford website, local media, and social media.
Disaster Response Routes (DRR) are roads and highways that are designated to be used solely by emergency services in the event of a declaration of a local or provincial state of emergency.
Disaster Response Routes in Langford run along the Trans-Canada Highway and Veterans Memorial Parkway. For more information, view the DRR Map for the Capital Region.
Volunteer in your community
Volunteering with the City equips you with free training, valuable experience in public safety, and the opportunity to serve your community in an emergency. Well-trained, skilled volunteers play a vital role before, during, and after a crisis. Here’s how you can get involved:
ESS
Langford’s Emergency Social Services (ESS) team is responsible for providing short-term, basic emergency assistance to individuals evacuated from their homes due to an emergency or disaster.
We’re looking for community minded volunteers to join Langford’s Emergency Program’s ESS Team. Training is provided.
Currently, Langford’s ESS Volunteers are responsible for:
opening and operating Reception Centres to aid people affected by a disaster providing a referral service to place evacuees in local lodging facilities
providing registration and inquiry information to the Red Cross to help re-unite families
providing food to victims, volunteers, and workers affected by the emergency
arranging for distribution of basic clothing to those who require it
providing personal services, such as counselling, and meeting special needs, as required
planning for Group Lodging Facilities (shelters), as needed
If you would like to volunteer or require more information, please contact the emergency program office at 250.478.5510.
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