The Langley City Emergency Program (LCEP) is dedicated to protecting the citizens, infrastructure, and environment of Langley City from the impact of emergencies and disasters. These efforts are supported and coordinated by the City through the following initiatives:
Creating, reviewing, updating, and testing the City's Emergency Plans
Providing emergency preparedness education to residents and businesses within the community
Coordinating Emergency Support Services (ESS) for Langley City residents impacted or displaced from their homes during an emergency
How To Prepare For An Emergency
Follow these 3 simple steps to ensure you and your loved ones are prepared and protected in the event of an emergency.
Step 1: Know Your Hazards
Knowing your hazards is the first and most important step in emergency preparedness. By identifying the hazards in your area and assessing the level of risk, you can prioritize your preparations, create targeted plans, and take proactive steps to reduce potential impacts of an emergency event.
The most common hazards in Langley City include but are not limited to:
Two types of fires are most likely to occur in Langley City: Structural Fires and Wildland Urban Interface Fires.
Structural Fires can occur in buildings like condos, townhomes, or commercial properties, often caused by cooking accidents, electrical issues, smoking, space heaters, unmonitored candles, neglected dryer vents, or arson.
Langley City’s abundance of parks, forests, wetlands, and farmlands, combined with nearby urban areas, also makes it susceptible to Wildland Urban Interface Fires. These fires can be sparked by extreme heat and dry conditions, or human activity like careless smoking near dry vegetation.
Remember: If you encounter a fire, call 9-1-1 immediately!
The Nicomekl Flood Plain runs through Langley City, and in fact, "Nicomekl" is Halq'emeylem for "always flooding". Flooding is expected during certain times of the year, however climate change has made Atmospheric Rivers more common, leading to increased flood events in the City. With homes lining the edge of the floodplain, this could easily cause an emergency event.
Droughts are defined by a period of dry weather, caused by high temperatures and low rainfall. This lack of rainfall (and lack of snowpack in the winter) creates water shortages in communities. Water shortages have detrimental consequences, such as contributing to failing crops, leading to food shortages and even famine. Droughts will continue to be an ongoing issue in the years to come as the global temperature continues to rise.
Understanding the potential hazards in Langley City will help you better prepare for emergency events. Once you're familiar with these risks, begin creating your Household Emergency Plan.
A Household Emergency Plan is a comprehensive guide that includes important details like clearly defined evacuation routes, meeting places, emergency contacts, local resources, important documentation, location of household utilities, household member information (including children, pets, and any special needs/restrictions), and step-by-step instructions for each household member. A carefully crafted Emergency Plan helps everyone understand their responsibilities, minimizes confusion, and improves the likelihood of staying safe during a crisis. It's crucial to review and practice the plan regularly, especially with children, so that everyone is familiar with it before an emergency event.
In the event of an emergency, you must be ready to evacuate immediately or shelter in place with your essentials. There are two types of emergency kits to consider: a Household Emergency Kit and a Grab & Go Bag.
A Grab & Go Bag is a pre-packed bag containing essential items such as:
medications
clothing
hygiene supplies
cash, important documents
non-perishable snacks
local maps
extra keys
seasonally-appropriate clothing
Since every individual has unique needs, each household member should have their own personalized bag tailored to their specific requirements.
The bag should be kept in an easily accessible location, ready to be grabbed quickly if you need to evacuate on short notice. Having a Grab & Go Bag prepared in advance (for your home, car, and workplace) ensures you are ready for unexpected emergencies, offering peace of mind and a sense of control when time is critical.
A Household Emergency Kit is a collection of essential items that are meant to help you and your household members survive and stay safe in case of an emergency. It includes supplies that will sustain you and the others in your household for at least 3 days/72 hours (or up to 2 weeks), which is the general recommendation for preparedness.
Some common items in a Household Emergency Kit include but are not limited to:
water
non-perishable food
first-aid supplies
flashlight
battery-powered or hand-crank radio
medications.
A Household Emergency Kit ensures you have the essential supplies to stay safe and self-sufficient until help arrives or you're able to evacuate.
Learn how to get involved and make a difference in your community
Find resources from Langley City and the Provincial government to stay informed and education to protect yourself and your loved ones during emergencies.
