Author: Jane Toppozini

Community Safety Update

Dear Neighbour,
We wanted to provide you with a community update relating to the current wildfire situation in the Okanagan.

CURRENT UPDATE & PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES

There has been no change in risk levels at Predator Ridge. Vernon Fire Rescue Services (VFRS) continues to be positioned at Fire Station #3 at Predator Ridge, as a command post with Deputy Chief and crew.  The team continues to proactively monitor our community through 30-minute patrols and Fire Station #3 will be staffed 24-hours/day until the threat levels drop. 

As per the latest emergency release from the Regional District of the Central Okanagan, a stage 4 water restriction has been put in place throughout the region. We are not under a restriction at Predator Ridge, however, we strongly encourage you to reduce your water consumption.  This will ensure that if required, we can conserve the water in our reservoir for fire fighting purposes.  See below for a link to the CORD emergency news conference for full details.

UPDATES AND WHERE TO FIND CURRENT INFORMATION

CITY OF VERNON RESOURCES

It is important to keep yourself updated with the latest information from official sources. If you haven’t already, please register to receive alerts from COV directly through: 

  • The Alertable Community Notifications system, which will provide you with emergency notifications including evacuation alerts or orders that are issued within the City’s municipal boundary. Learn more at: Vernon.ca/Alertable
  • Register to receive alerts from the City of Vernon directly to your inbox by subscribing at: Vernon.ca/Subscribe
  • Follow the City of Vernon social media channels (@CityOfVernon) on Facebook and Instagram.

CENTRAL OKANAGAN EMERGENCY OPERATIONS

The current wildfires in the Okanagan are all located in the Regional District of the Central Okanagan.  For up-to-date information please visit CordEmergency.ca.  You can also follow them on Twitter (@CO_Emerg).

For more details on the fire situation, we encourage you to watch the official Emergency News conference released at 11am this morning. This can be viewed at the link below or via their YouTube channel (@regionaldistrict).


GOVERNMENT OF BC

Earlier this afternoon, the Government of BC released their BC Wildfire Update.  This can be viewed on the link below or via their YouTube channel (@GovernmentofBC)

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT EVACUATION ALERTS & ORDERS

We have received a lot of questions regarding what do to in the case of an Evacuation Alert or Order. 

As per the Government of BC, if an Evacuation Alert is in place, be ready to leave on short notice and take the following steps:

  • Move patio furniture, cushions and door mats indoors.
  • Connect garden hoses and fill large containers with water, such as pools, hot tubs and garbage cans. This can assist firefighters and help slow advancing flames.
  • Ensure your house number is visible. This will help firefighters locate your home quickly.
  • Disconnect automatic garage door openers so doors can be opened by hand if you lose power.
  • Clean around the exterior of your property and remove any dry debris in your yard and if possible, clean out your gutters.
  • If you have a roof sprinkler system, please have it set up, but do not turn on your water. In the case of an emergency, fire fighters will turn the system on. Leaving your water running puts our entire community at risk. We run off a gravity fed reservoir, which requires pumps to fill from the lake.  If those pumps lose power or fail, we will be left with only the water currently in the reservoir.

Government of BC Emergency Evacuee Guidance

THE EMERGENCY EVACUATION SIREN

NOW MORE THAN EVER, we are grateful to have our local evacuation siren installed and a tool readily available for our community.  As a reminder, in the event that we are placed on an Evacuation Order, we will be notified:

  • through the Alertable app and above channels
  • through command post personnel (boots on the ground)
  • and our local siren will be activated

HAVE YOU MADE YOUR CONTRIBUTION TO THE SIREN?Due to some innovative cost savings, and further in-kind contributions by Predator Ridge, we are now only $6,000 short of our needed funding for the siren. 

If you have not had an opportunity to contribute, we still need all members of our community to do their part and CONTRIBUTE to this invaluable community resource.

CONTRIBUTE TO THE SIREN NOW

PREDATOR RIDGE ONSITE AMENITIES & STAFFING CHALLENGES

We are currently being challenged with staffing levels due to evacuations in Kelowna and Lake Country, where a significant amount of our team resides.  We have had to make the decision to limit our onsite amenities as follows:

  • Range Lounge & Grill remains open with a limited menu.  We will be closing at 8:00pm this evening.
  • Pallino’s is closed until further notice.
  • Turning Point and Outlook Cabin are closed until further notice.
  • Commonage Market is well stocked with our chef-prepared frozen foods from both Range Lounge & Grill and Pallino’s.  Hours of operation remain as normal, open from 6:00am – 8:00pm.

Our focus is to ensure the safety of our community we will provide you with further updates when we receive them.  We encourage you to stay connected with official sources, as provided above.

Sincerely,
The Predator Ridge Management Team
AND
Your Predator Ridge Community Safety (PRCS) Committee
Gordon Wilson
Jane Toppozini
Karen Grimsrud
Robert Scott
Gord Ball

Important Community Message

Predator Ridge Community Emergency Evacuation Siren

HISTORY:

Dear Homeowners,
Our 2021 wildfire season was an exhausting one on many fronts.  We experienced unseasonable hot dry weather, a wave of unpredictable forest fires and smoke throughout our entire province. Thankfully, we had a bit of a reprieve this past summer, however forecasted trends in weather patterns show hotter and dryer summers ahead with an increased risk of wildfire.

In an ongoing attempt to keep all our residents safe, Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management Committee (PRCEMC) looked at additional avenues to enhance our community’s safety. We have been working with both Predator Ridge and Sparkling Hill, and we have all agreed that although the current technology of using cell phone and email alerts is effective, it may not be the total solution for our community should the City of Vernon ever need to get an emergency alert out to all the guests, visitors and Predator Ridge residents, especially in the middle of the night.  

Additional information can be found on our website: https://prcemc.ca/alert-siren/

PRESENT :

PRCEMC is proud to announce that we have been successful with our proposal to the City of Vernon regarding the acquisition, installation and management of the Predator Ridge Emergency Evacuation Siren (EES).  Over the past year we have worked closely with Predator Ridge, Sparkling Hill, and the City of Vernon, and we have all agreed that, although the current technology of using cell phone and email alerts is effective, it may not be the total solution for our community should the City of Vernon ever need to get an evacuation alert out to all guests, visitors and Predator Ridge residents, especially in the middle of the night.

We have looked at other communities that have successfully utilized cell phone and email technology in tandem with an EES to notify their community of imminent danger.  Using all these systems together provides far better coverage and peace of mind to all residents.

An updated cost estimate and call for additional bids was undertaken for the acquisition and installation of the EES and related equipment.  The final cost of the acquisition and installation is still in line to what had been forecasted at the beginning of the project: $112,000. Based on approximate population estimates of each stakeholder group throughout the fire season (PR Community, PR Resort and Sparkling Hill) we have agreed upon the following fair and equitable contributions to the project.

STAKEHOLDER CONTRIBUTION
Predator Ridge Residents60,000.00
Predator Ridge Resort (Wesbuild)30,000.00
Sparkling Hill Resort22,000.00
TOTAL PROJECT COST$112,000.00
Stakeholder Contribution Table

With approximately 750 households in the community, if each household contributes an amount between $75.00 and $100.00, we could easily reach our target goal of $60,000. 

We recognize that not everyone’s financial situation is the same, so we ask that you please support as best you can, and if your circumstances allow for additional funds, we would welcome the support.  At the end of the day we are all building a better, safer community together.

The EES is scheduled to be installed in April/May for the start of the 2023 Fire Season.

There will be information and educational sessions held this spring to ensure everyone understands the process and procedures should we find our community in an emergency evacuation situation where the EES would need to be activated.

If you have any questions please email us at: questions@prcemc.ca or visit the Siren Information page.

To provide your contribution, please visit our GoFundMe Page or click on the Donate now button below.

Thank you in advance for supporting Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management and our Community Safety Program. 

It takes all of us, working together, to build a stronger, safer community….

Your PRCEMC Team
Gord Wilson; Jane Toppozini; Karen Grimsrud; Robert Scott

Are You Prepared?

Dear Homeowner, 

Being prepared before and when disaster strikes is something only you can initiate. There are many great resources readily available that will help you understand what potential hazards you might face and what you can do to be prepared for them. However, the responsibility lies with each of us individually to seek out this information and be prepared for the unexpected. 

The following is a list of resource that will help you be better prepared for an emergency: 

◆ Know Your Hazards

Being aware of what hazards you should prepare for is the first step in emergency preparedness. Although severe weather, power outages etc. are factors, one of the most likely and significant threats to our community is wildfire. Because we live in a wild land interface area, it’s important that we are ready and understand what to do before, during and after a wildfire. 
The Wildfire Preparedness Guide is an excellent resource to help you plan for such an emergency. + Click here to access the Wildfire Preparedness Guide

◆  Build a Household Emergency Kit & Grab and Go Bag 

At the onset of a disaster, you might need to stay at home with your emergency kit, or you may need to leave at a moment’s notice with your grab and go bags. Now is the time to gather and organize supplies so you are ready should disaster strike. + Click here to access instructions and videos, on how to build a household emergency kit & grab-and-go bag 

◆  Make Your Emergency Plan

A well thought out emergency plan communicated with everyone in your household can save time (and lives) during an emergency. Everyone will know what to do, where to call and how to stay safe if an emergency were to happen. Make sure to review the plan with each member of your household and involve them in the planning process. Keep a copy of this plan in an easy to find and easy to remember place. If you have out-of-town visitors staying with you during wildfire season – tell them about your plan!

◆  Register with the City of Vernon Connect (NOW) 

The Vernon Connect App is now up and running and available for all devices. Visit the App Store or Google Play to download. Among the many things you can use the app for, the emergency alert feature will kick in if an emergency occurs that requires residents to act. In such cases, the “report a problem” banner changes to read “alert” and the colour changes from green to red. Residents should read the alert to help decide next steps.

If you don’t have a smart phone, you can still subscribe to stay up to date on the latest news and events happening in the Vernon area. + Click here to register.

Guidelines and Best Practices to Help Us,
In the Event an Evacuation Alert or Evacuation Order Is Issued:

Preparing for an Evacuation

Our best defense is a good offence. Be prepared and have a well thought out plan including:

  1. Grab and Go Kits are ready with clothing and valuables 
  2. Written list of who is to do what in house, readily available 
  3. Set up links to monitor for City of Vernon communication and media: 
  4. Preselect a meeting place for your family in case you are separated when an Evacuation Order is called. For example, a local coffee shop, the mall parking lot, a friend or relative’s house, etc. 
  5. Keep the gas tank of at least one personal vehicle always full. 
  6. Make sure you have one or two of your neighbours’ cell phone numbers in case you need to connect with them. 
  7. Also, it is a good idea to have that information handy in case you have a neighbour who is not tech savvy and may need your help accessing the right information. 
  8. Let your neighbour or a community friend know if you are going on vacation so that you can be accounted for if there is ever an evacuation. 
  9. If you can, set up an alternate place to stay, should an evacuation happen (e.g., stay with family or friends in another location). 
  10. Make sure you are registered with Block Watch in the event a phone tree of communication is ever needed. 
  11. There is an alternate emergency exit up at Sparkling Hill, it is currently gated and locked. In the event that it is required during an evacuation, it will be unlocked by authorized EM personal and could be used as our second exit out, if and only if we are instructed to go that way. DO NOT USE this exit, UNLESS we have been given clear instructions to do so.
Stages of Evacuation

There are three (3) stages to an evacuation. 

  1. Alert Stage 
  2. Evacuation Stage 
  3. Evacuation Rescinded Stage 

First and foremost, follow the instructions provided by the local emergency coordinators & responders. You are prepared because you have made an emergency plan and your grab-and-go kits are ready to go. 

Stage 1: Standing by on Alert 
  1. Have your grab-and-go kit ready and packed in the vehicle, along with any personal items that you want to bring with you. 
  2. Cell phone charged and charger, car keys and wallets etc. close by. 
  3. Monitor the City of Vernon media outlets, Vernon Connect, Twitter, Instagram, Facebook for information on evacuation orders and location of Evacuation Reception Centres. 
  4. Check Vernon Castanet online for new updates. 
  5. Monitor local radio stations for updates (Vernon’s Pure Country 105.7 and Beach Radio 107.5 FM). 
  6. Locate all family members and designate a meeting area outside the evacuation area, should an Evacuation Alert or Order be called while separated. 
  7. Arrange transportation for all your household members. Depending on the situation transportation may be provided.
  8. Ensure alternate accommodation for all members of the family are set up and confirmed 
  9. Prepare to move disabled persons, children and/or neighbours. If assistance is needed reach out to first responders. 
  10. Prepare to take pets with you. 
  11. Remove combustibles such as patio cushions, plastics etc. from the exterior of your home. Bring these items inside your home or garage. 
  12. Do not drive towards the danger if it is close by, as it could create congestion and confusion for the first responders.
Stage 2: Order to Evacuate
  1. The order to evacuate usually comes from the City of Vernon Emergency Management Services. Depending on the situation, the order could come from other authorities including the RCMP or BC WildFire Service.  
  2. Emergency officials may instruct you to shut off your utilities, or they may end up being shut off by the utility company to protect the natural gas or electricity systems. Do not shut off your natural gas unless instructed to do so.
  3. Leave the house. Do not try to stay to protect your property, as this just causes more work for the first response personal who are trying to get us all out safely and do their jobs. 
  4. Drive slowly and safely with the traffic, be kind, be calm, let people out of their driveways so we can all get out safely. Drive in an orderly fashion, using the zipper method to allow traffic to flow evenly. 
  5. One vehicle per household will help alleviate the congestion on the streets and roadways. 
  6. Follow the signs if they have had time to place them. If not, watch for emergency personnel who will be directing traffic and evacuation flow. 
  7. Put the OK sign in your window as you leave, lock all the doors and windows. + Click here to download a printable Emergency OK sign 
  8. Once you are safely out of danger and if an Evacuation Centre has been set up, please make sure you register so that Emergency Support Services will have you accounted for. Register your family at the Evacuation Center or online with the Provincial Emergency Support Services at https://ess.gov.bc.ca
Stage 3: Evacuation Rescinded 
  1. The order to rescind the alert or evacuation will come from City of Vernon EMS. 
  2. It will be posted on all City of Vernon communication and media sites and at the Evacuation Centre or Command Post. 
  3. Do not return home until the order has been rescinded.

If you have any questions or feedback, please reach out to your PRCEMC online at: PRCEMC.ca/Contact-Us.

Your Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management Committee (PRCEMC)

Jane Toppozini, Gord Wilson, Luiz Araujo, Karen Grimsrud, Robert Scott, Colleen Scott.

Community Safety Contest Winners

CONGRATULATIONS TO THE PRCEMC Community Safety Contest Winners:

PRCEMC would like to extend a congratulations to the winners of our Community Safety Draw held in December.

  • 1st Prize Winner- Set of Head Lamps was won by Jeff Biggs
  • 2nd Prize Winner – Reflective Safety Vest was won by Laurie Parsons
  • 3rd Prize Winner. – Reflective Safety Vest was won by Cheryl Dobrowolski

Thank you to everyone for participating.  Keep an eye for our next news letter and draw!!   Be Safe, Be Seen

PRCEMC Community Safety Message

Dear Neighbours;

To say that 2021 was a challenging year would be an understatement. During the continuing COVID pandemic, we managed through a significant heat dome in early summer that set the stage for one of the worst wildfire seasons ever throughout the province. If that wasn’t enough, this fall has recorded some of the heaviest rainfall coastal areas have ever seen, resulting in serious flooding and damage to structures, the transportation infrastructure and supply chains. 

While one might ask, “what could be next?”, a better question is, “how can I be better prepared?”

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS THROUGHOUT THE WINTER 

Severe weather like snow storms, thunderstorms, hail, freezing rain, blizzards, high winds or heavy rain can happen with little warning, and in any season and these severe weather patterns can often cause a loss of power.  When preparing for potential severe weather, it is a good rule of thumb to be prepared for at least 48 – 72 hours of isolation.

It is important to have an emergency plan and have done some preparation, in the event that we are isolated for an extended time.  BC Emergency Management has some excellent advice and information on Preparing for Severe Weather and power outages: 

https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/safety/emergency-management/preparedbc/know-your-hazards/severe-weather

A power outage can involve a short- or long-term loss of electricity to an area, and we may find ourselves without light, heat and hot water.  In the event of a power outage in our area, it is always a good idea to confirm that BC Hydro is aware of it.  The faster they are advised, the sooner they can dispatch repair crews.  To confirm power outages are reported in our area, go to BC Hydro’s outage list/map.  

If our area does not appear on the BC Hydro map or list of outages call BC Hydro and log the outage as soon as possible: 1-800-224-9376.

https://www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-list.html

SAFETY

Winter is upon us and the shorter darker days are here once again.  The cold weather, ice, and snow can also increase the chances of slips and falls.  If you are out walking on the roadways with family, friends and pets, please keep in mind that you are not always visible to oncoming traffic especially at dawn, dusk and at night.  Wearing some form of reflective clothing or headlamps is one way to stay VISIBLE. With the fluctuating temperatures, the road and pathways can be very icy and slippery.  Wearing cleats and using poles is an excellent way to prevent any unexpected and possibly dangerous falls. 

CBC Marketplace did a study this year to find out which winter boots were actually better for winter walking or hiking.  The article “5 out of 6 winter boots fail slip test on ice” can be found here:

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/marketplace-boot-test-1.6252613

BLOCK WATCH 

2021 has been a quiet year for Block Watch activities here at Predator Ridge, which means another successful and crime-free period in our community. The pandemic has limited our Block Watch yearly meetings with Captains, Co-Captains and especially our newer residents. If you have recently moved to Predator Ridge and have not been contacted by your neighbourhood Block Watch Captain/Co-Captain, please contact the Predator Ridge Block Watch Committee at blockwatch_predator_ridge@prcemc.ca or visit us at our website at https://prcemc.ca/block-watch/.  Please continue to look after each other.  Turn on your outside lights at dusk and help keep our neighbourhoods safe.

FIRESMART

A picture containing text, grass, outdoor Description automatically generated
White Rock Lake Fire Viewed from Predator Ridge Roundabout

With the proximity of the White Rock Lake Fire this summer, many Predator Ridge residents tackled their own personal FireSmart cleanups around their homes. 

This fall two significant FireSmart Events were held in our community. On Saturday, October 23rd, a sanctioned clean-up was held in the Commonage neighbourhood with over 35 volunteers from all over Predator Ridge attending. It was a great day and we filled two 25-yard waste disposal bins right to the top.  And on October 24th, Osprey Green Townhomes residents rolled up their sleeves and cleaned up a section of their common land that bordered #7 fairway of the Predator golf course.

To view further details and pictures of the 2021 FireSmart neighbourhood clean-ups here at Predator Ridge, visit the website at: FireSmart  (https://prcemc.ca/firesmart/)

EMERGENCY ALERT SIREN SURVEY

The Emergency Alert Siren Survey results were very positive.  675 residents were surveyed and 540 responded.  78% of those who took the survey were in favour of the siren and 69% were in favour of paying $100.00 to support of the acquisition and installation of an emergency alert siren. The decision was made to move forward and present the proposal to the City of Vernon.  PRCEMC members met with City of Vernon Officials on November 4th to present the project proposal. The City Fire Chief reviewed the material favourably and asked for a few weeks to further discuss the proposal and how they might incorporate the emergency alert siren within their existing emergency management system.

If the City agrees to incorporate the emergency alert siren into its existing emergency management plan, and will take on primary authority over the horn, then PRCEMC will move forward with further community engagement.  The City will meet and discuss their decision mid-December.

For further details and survey results visit the PRCEMC website. https://prcemc.ca/alert-siren/

TRAFFIC FLOW

There has been a fair amount of discussion over the past few months regarding the increase in traffic volume and speed on some of our community roadways.  PRCEMC members did meet with City of Vernon official to review Birdie Lake Drive and Falcon Point Way, resulting in the replacement and upgrading of a proper stop sign and installation of a warning sign ahead.   We also engaged with Wesbild regarding the increase in traffic flow and the challenges the community is experiencing due to the increase in traffic.  Predator recognize that there are some challenges with the current traffic flow and volume, and have agreed to take time over the winter to determine the right plan of action for moving forward.    

COMMONAGE ROAD IMPROVEMENT COMMITTEE – CRIC 

As the Commonage Road Improvement Committee has completed their objectives and the committee will be winding down, we would like to thank the committee for their contribution to building a safer community.  All of their efforts to have improvements made to Commonage Road have been greatly appreciated by all.  Thank you to Jane Toppozini, Gord Ball and Morgan Grant.

ADDITION TO PRCEMC

We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Karen Grimsrud to the PRCEMC.  Karen has recently moved to our community and brings with her a wealth of expereince in emergency management planning, she will be a great resource to the community and a welcomed addtion to our committee. 

COMMUNITY SAFETY CONTEST  

The PRCEMC is hosting a community safety contest! Winners will receive either a set of Head Lamps or a Reflective Vest. To enter simply answer a few questions regarding Community Safety and your name will be entered into a draw to win a Head Lamp or Reflective Vest.  Contest will close midnight on December 18th, 2021. (Please only one entry per person).  

Click here to enter the Contest: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1_rG0IWB0m2zYOeXDZZF9mpJYgdGXADBycRwoHrlIhzg/edit

We wish you all a safe, and very Merry Christmas and Happy Healthy New Year 2022.

Sincerely,

Your Predator Ridge Community Emergency Management Committee (PRCEMC)

Jim Popowich
Colleen Scott
Jane Toppozini
Gordon Wilson
Luiz Araujo
Karen Grimsrud