The Four Pillars of Emergency Management
Risk Mitigation
Risk mitigation starts with strategies to prepare for any threats faced by the community and most importantly implements activities to reduce the negative effects of potential emergencies and disasters. Sq’ewá:lxw prioritizes risk mitigation with a hazard, risk, and vulnerability assessment. Mitigation work is starting with the utilization of FireSmart principles to reduce the risks associated with wildfire.
Preparedness
Central to Sq’ewá:lxw preparedness activities is the All-Hazards Emergency Management Plan. The purpose of the all-hazards plan is to provide a framework for mitigation, preparation, response, and recovery activities to be undertaken during and after an emergency, and to protect the health and safety of our community members and our critical infrastructure. Planning has been supported by training and tabletop scenario playing exercises.
Emergency Response
Sq’ewá:lxw response planning focusses on response support, with site response provided by our partners: the Agassiz RCMP, the Agassiz Fire Department, and the BCEHS Ambulance Service. In the case of a disaster, the Sq’ewá:lxw Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) will activate.
Recovery
While the All-Hazards Plan provides advice for recovery operations during and following an event, specific and detailed recover planning will be further developed as time and resources permit.