We did it – cut, raked, collected, filled the large bin, built muscles and friendship.
Eva & Larry Poxon
With help and mentorship of Predator Ridge Landscape Manager, Breanne Tripp, neighbours Toby Frisk, Deb Hobbs, Bob Wade, Neil Bowler, Eva Poxon and Larry Poxon went to work to make their properties more FireSmart.
It is amazing how much work can be achieved with a great team of motivated adults! 4-days of pleasure went by sooo quickly.
Working over a period of 4-days from Thursday to Sunday, the neighbours invested a total of 50 hours on lots 7 thru 12 to make their properties & community more resistant to wildfire.
A big shoutout to Breanne Tripp for all her guidance and help in providing a very large bin that was completely filled. Breanne is also a member of the PRCEMC FireSmart Committee.
Emergency Management in British Columbia is guided by four pillars: Mitigation, Preparation, Response and Recovery. Learn how the province is involved in emergencies and find resources for your household, neighbourhood and community. Find out More at Emergency Management BC
As you know, last week Predator Ridge fell victim to a criminal attack on several community mailboxes resulting in the theft of personal mail and packages as well as the destruction of numerous mailboxes.
These incidents have been reported to the RCMP and Canada Post (CP), by First Landmark, the PRCEMC, Block Watch and some residents. This is the first time that our community has been targeted in such a brazen and widespread manner, and as you can imagine residents of Predator Ridge are very concerned.
In conversation with a local Canada Post supervisor on Monday January 17, we were informed of the following.
Canada Post and the RCMP are aware of the situation.
Canada Post is sending a security representative to Predator this week to review the vandalism and extent of the damage.
ONLY Mailboxes that have been vandalized and the locks are broken will have their mail held at the Canada Post main office in Vernon until the mailboxes are repaired.
Mailboxes that have not been damaged will continue to receive mail delivery.
Mailboxes where only the parcel boxes have been vandalized will have their parcels delivered totheir doors. (we spoke directly to our local area CP carrier on this). Personal mail will continue to be delivered to the mailboxes (e.g. Lower Falcon point)
We have been notified by the local carrier that both Birdie Lake Place and Court have been repaired and mail delivery has resumed.
All of the mailboxes that were damaged were the older brown-based models that are easily vandalized and are often targeted. To have these older mailboxes replaced with new tamper proof boxes we encourage residents to call the CP Costumer Service and request an upgraded to the new grey tamper proof mailboxes. CP Customer Service 1-866-607-6301
If you are in any way concerned for the safety of your expecting parcels, have them redirected to Canada Post main office in Vernon.
To pick up your mail in Vernon you will need identification with your picture on it. (Driver’s license or BC Service Card).
Canada Post Main Office Vernon 3101 32nd Ave, Vernon, BC V1T 2M0
Our Block Watch Captains and PRCEMC will continue to keep you posted as new information becomes available. In the mean time, be vigilant and report all suspicious activities to the RCMP (911 or non-emergency number 250-545-7171) and also inform your Block Watch Captain.
If you see a crime in progress call 911 immediately. Do Not confront the criminals.
Our Block Watch neighbours make a commitment to watch out for each other’s homes and report suspicious activities to the police and to each other. They also keep each other informed about neighbourhood occurrences, burglary, thefts, and other crimes or problems occurring on their streets. If you have any questions or concerns about security and safety in your neighbourhood please contact your Block Watch Captain.
As the hot and dry weather continues across BC, it’s important to keep wildfire prevention and mitigation top of mind. Check out Ember’s Den for helpful resources and tips for the whole family to get FireSmart!
To many, Embers from a fire may seem small and inconsequential. But these tiny flittering offshoots can travel a great distance and cause real world devastation.
For even more information, listen to the Get FireSmart™ Podcast where we interview experts from the world of wildfire. The Get FireSmart™ Podcast is available on both Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
On Wednesday, May 19, we are asking you to help make the hashtag #journey2immunity trend on social media while encouraging everyone to register for their vaccine. Here’s what you can do:
Post a video, a tweet, a Facebook post, Instagram story or any social media platform!
Use the hashtag #journey2immunity, share the link www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca , and encourage people to register for the vaccine.
Personalize your message. Here is a draft idea to use: “I’m getting the vaccine for [LIVE MUSIC/PUB NIGHTS/INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL/HOCKEY/POPCORN & MOVIES AGAIN/RESTAURANTS/FESTIVALS]. Join me on the #journey2immunity and register at www.getvaccinated.gov.bc.ca ”
Some interesting topics and information came out of this months NEST meeting attended by Jm Popowich. These meetings are attended by surrounding neighbourhood communities and the City of Vernon to collaborate on emergency management and preparedness initiatives.
Here is some great information and links coming out of this most recent NEST meeting:
When is the best time to prepare for an emergency?
When there isn’t one! While our community has been navigating the ups and downs of the pandemic over the past year, an emergency – whether flood, fire or other, stops for no one, including COVID-19.
This is the time of year for all Okanagan residents to check and update their family emergency plan. If you don’t have a plan yet, the PRCEMC webpage offers plenty of resources to help guide you through the process.
“Being prepared to look after your family for at least 72 hours in the event of an emergency is something we all need to do each year,” says Jim Popowich – PRCEMC Coordinator.
He adds, “Moving from winter to spring provides a great opportunity for residents to check through their ‘grab and go’ kit. Take stock of materials you need to replenish and ensure that you replace any outdated food, prescriptions, water or other items you may need should an emergency evacuation force you from your home.”
Don’t Have a Emergency Kit?
For those that may not have a plan or kit yet, you’ll find a number of useful links, preparedness information, checklists and videos at on the PRCEMC website at https://prcemc.ca/resources-and-links/
Having a plan and kit brings some peace of mind. There may not be a lot of advance notice during the early stages of an emergency response. If the threat is imminent, you may only have a few minutes to get your family and belongings together before being directed to leave your home.”
Get Connected
Every Predator Ridge resident is encouraged to visit Vernon.ca and subscribe to receive notices directly from the City of Vernon’s Operation Centre if its activated an emergency. Also, the Vernon Connect App is now available. Read more about this app for your smart phone on the City of Vernon Website.
Residents should also be also aware that in this COVID-19 pandemic environment, health and safety protocols will be in place for any Emergency Reception Centre in order to protect Emergency Support Services volunteers and evacuees visiting in person. Also a new online program provided in conjunction with Emergency Management BC was introduced in 2020. It provides an easy online self-registration option for anyone on Evacuation Alert or forced from their home due to an Evacuation Order. During an emergency, this will help ESS volunteers administer and coordinate resources for anyone eligible for assistance and help under the Emergency Support Services program.
On February 23rd and 25th, the PRCEMC team hosted a webinar on Community Safety at Predator Ridge. If you were unable to attend any of those webinar sessions, we have posted a recording of the Feb 25th session on our YouTube channel.
Give the video a view and stay up to date on community safety and other initiatives happening in and around the Predator Ridge Community.
PreparedBC offers downloadable guides and fill-in-the-blank plans to help you prepare for emergencies. Check out these excellent guides tailored specifically for you in the event of an emergency or natural disaster.
Since its inception in 2014, the PRCEMC has used this HRVA process, and continues to review and update its content on an annual basis. As you may expect, events such as Wildfire, Medical Emergencies, Break/Enter/Theft and Vandalism, Animal Encounters, as well as Missing Persons and other hazards, continue to be identified and addressed within our HRVA. Our latest review in the 3rd quarter of 2020 identified the following top 5 priorities for action:
