When I was in Grade 10 a friend of mine, who was a junior member of our town’s fire department, said he hoped that one of the town’s bigger structures would catch on fire.
Not because he was a firebug that liked to watch fire, but because he wanted the challenge it presented.
At the time I credited his comment to youthful exuberance.
However, I cannot feign the same excuse.
Last summer, when I was on vacation in Kelowna, B.C., I distinctly remember hoping that the Central Okanagan Regional District (CORD) Emergency Operations Centre was activated so that I would have the chance to be called out as part of the communications unit.
Of course, to do that would mean that some sort of disaster natural or otherwise would have to happen.
And that is exactly what happened. On July 16, a wildfire started in nearby Lake Country that forced hundreds of people out of their homes. Many of the evacuees ended up in a reception centre where they received various forms of aid.
That is where I ended up being stationed. My role was to pass information to and from the EOC and the reception. While I was glad to be of service and dust off my radio skills I could not help but feel guilty for wanting to have been activated.
And that is how it should be because it is important to remember that behind all the TV, radio, and newspaper stories about these situations, real people are being impacted.
We also need to use these events as a reminder that we always need to be prepared for the worst.
When I was part of the EOC, we had to turn away radio operators who wanted to help. Unfortunately, they did not have the proper training and would have been more of a hindrance than help. Because of my lack of time on the microphone, if I was in the Okanagan when another emergency arose, I would be one of those operators that would be turned away.
As an ordinary citizen, it is important to be prepared for a potential disaster. AEMA advises Albertans to research the risks in their community and to always have a 72-hour emergency kit with food, money, and documentation ready in case you are unable to leave your home or need to evacuate on short notice. That is good advice and one I plan on taking.
