kathryn marsh wrote:
> Can I reinforce Jeff's warning that animals of any kind are a huge
> commitment. ... they need you there
> to take the responsibility all the time.
In the preocess of developing an emergency preparedness plan for our
neighbourhood, my wife and I tried to take the high level of responsibility
for animals into account in our concept of Dependency Level. I attach below
a draft of the plan where the concept is explained.
----
Draft document
Emergency Preparedness
Echo Valley
Fulford Harbour, British Columbia
V8K 1X2
This information is for sharing with other households in the area.
The goal of this project is to lay the groundwork for cooperation in the
event of a neighbourhood emergency. A neighbourhood emergency is any
situation that cannot be handled with a phone call to 911, or where the
outside emergency services require neighbourhood support. Such situations
will include the major earthquake that is expected sometime in the next few
hundred years (maybe tomorrow), as well as other situations created by
natural forces or by people.
Geographical scope
The Echo Valley residential area lies along Beaver Point Road, from
Demitri Way, to the high point of land just before Beaver Point
Provincial Park, and takes in McLennan Road and Amblewood Drive, between
Ruckle Provincial Park to the east and the uninhabited highland watershed
area to the west..
Echo Valley forms a part of the watershed draining into Cusheon Cove. The
rest of the watershed lies along Bulman Road and Demitri Way, and into
Ruckle Provincial Park. Major pollution of some part of the watershed would
affect the rest of it as well.
A map of the region is supplied on page 3.
Household Inventory & Disaster Recovery Inventory
When a household agrees to participate in this project, they are asked to
complete the attached sheets and return them to the neighbourhood
coordinator.
This information will be shared with everybody in the Echo Valley area who
participates in the project and a copy will be filed with the CRD disaster
recovery office in Ganges.
About once a year or so, a neighbourhood meeting can ensure that a
volunteer household is still maintaining the records.
------
page 2
Emergency preparedness
Living is Echo Valley calls for a high degree of independence and
self-sufficiency. It is routine for road access to be blocked by a
snowstorm for a week or so every winter, especially on McLennan and
Amblewood. Hydro failures are frequent. A flood or earthquake of even low
magnitude could also cut us off. Therefore, every household should have on
hand at all times, sufficient food, water, animal feed, fuel, and heating
supplies to last some time. Each household will make its own decision about
how much to stockpile; for most items, a ten day supply would be adequate,
while it is prudent to stockpiles enough of some items such as dry
firewood and some animal feed to last several months.
Many situations can be handled with a call to 911, and so every household
should have at least one telephone that operates when Hydro service fails.
Cordless phones, fax/phone combinations, and the like do not work without
electricity.
Fire, ambulance, and police service depend on the house numbers assigned by
the Fire Chief in Ganges. These house numbers are to be displayed at the
main access to your property. The sign displaying this number should be
maintained so that it is clearly visible year-round, clear of plant growth
and snow.
Definitions and explanations
Dependency level
For a household (people and animals)
3 High care required within 24 hours of the onset of an emergency
2 Medium care required within 3 or 4 days of the onset of an emergency
1 Low care required within one week of the onset of an emergency
0 None does not require checking until others have been looked after
The significance of dependency levels for residents and animals
Example 1, a household of two adults rated at levels 3 and 1, resp. When an
emergency arises, then neighbours should check on the well-being of the
level 3 adult at the first opportunity, and then they need check back only
after another week or so, as for level 1.
Example 2, a household where there are two adults, with a half-dozen
rabbits and a goat. The adults are able-bodied and rate themsleves at level
0; their animals are level 3 in dependency. The neighbourhood need only
determine if the adults are at home, and if they are, then no checking is
necessary until all others are taken care of. If neither adult seems to be
home, then the neighbourhood should care for the animals daily until a
resident does appear.
Residents
If some are only present for part of the year (e.g. a summer resident or
weekend resident), then this can be indicated by stating the months, e.g.
"Joe (holidays and July-Aug only)" For a bed and breakfast operation, the
number of guests and operating season should be indicated.
Neighbourhood volunteer coordinator
Name:
Address, phone number, fax, e-mail:
Date of volunteering:
Date for next meeting:
------
page 3
Map of Echo Valley
------
page 4
Part 1: Household inventory
Address:
Contact information
Telephone numbers:
Cell phone numbers:
Fax numbers:
E-mail addresses
Residents Dependency level
(indicate part-time residents; no. of B&B Guest) (Hi , Med, Low, None)
1
2
3
4
5
6
Livestock and pets Dependency level
Description
(species, quantity, other info as appropriate) (Hi , Med, Low, None)
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
------
page 5
Part 2: Disaster recovery inventory
Skills
Name of person Skill description, formal training and/or experience
1
2
3
4
Emergency supplies --available for sharing in the neighbourhood
Food
Water
Fuel
Animal feed
Other
Other
Emergency equipment --available for sharing in the neighbourhood
Debris removal, road clearing equipment
Generator/ other power source
Snowstorm equipment
Other light, heat, or other energy resource
Spare personal emergency gear
Other
Other
end of draft
------
Terry J. Klokeid, Ph.D.
Amblewood Organic Farm
Fulford Harbour BC
E-mail [EMAIL PROTECTED]
