Emergency Preparedness Week

Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is May 4 to 10 in 2025 and is a great time to learn about getting prepared for emergencies. 

In it together

Being prepared isn’t just about what supplies you have.

True preparedness and resilience come from all of us working together: individuals, organizations, and government, so we can all respond and recover better. Now, more than ever, it’s important to stand together, connect with our neighbours, identify those who may need extra support and take steps to be personally prepared.

To encourage and recognize the need for this collective effort, this year’s theme for Emergency Preparedness Week is “In it together.”

Take action today

Emergencies can happen at any time, and there are things we can do to make sure we are better prepared to respond as a community.

Get to know others in your community

When disaster strikes, the most immediate help will come from those around you, your neighbours. Connecting and building relationships with them today will mean a better response and faster recovery.

Use our updated Neighbourhood Guide (PDF, 2.6MB) or Apartments and Condos Guide (PDF, 2.4MB) as an icebreaker and reach out to your neighbours by organizing a get-together. If you already have a neighbourhood network in place, start there; such as a Block Watch group, residents’ association, or strata council.

Consider talking about the possible hazards in your area, how prepared your home is, any neighbours who have specific needs, and the emergency programs in your area.

Get inspired by some of the following groups by checking out the Community Spotlight series on the Emergency Management in B.C. blog.​

Community preparedness starts with you

If you are prepared for an emergency, you will be better able to support others in your community.

Know the hazards in your community: Hazards vary from region to region. Knowing the hazards that are most likely to happen in your community can help you focus your preparedness actions. Use the B.C. hazard map to see what emergencies could happen near you!

Gather your supplies: When an emergency happens, you may need to stay at home with an emergency kit or leave immediately with your grab-and-go bags. Check out our basic supply list. Add items based on your specific needs, and don’t forget to include items for your pets (Pet emergency plan (PDF, 1MB)).

Make your home emergency plan: An emergency plan says how you and the people you live with will respond during an emergency. Having a home emergency plan will help you stay calm, connected, focused, and safe during an emergency. 

More information

For information on EP Week and for year-round preparedness tips, follow us on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram.

This page will continue to be updated with more information regarding Emergency Preparedness Week 2025 initiatives.