District of North Vancouver shares storm season tips for homes and families

The District of North Vancouver published storm season guidance on November 3, saying its crews are already preparing for fall rain and storms. It also lists steps residents can take to protect their property and households.

For property, the District suggests checking retaining walls, drainage systems and natural creeks, and calling in a qualified professional if something looks wrong. Items such as furniture or patio decking that have ended up in creeks or against drainage culverts should be removed. Residents should also clear leaves and other blockages from catch basins near their homes. Anyone who needs District help can go to DNV.org/report.

On personal readiness, the District recommends:

- Building a family emergency kit and plan, using tips from NSEM.ca. - Signing up for Alertable at NSEM.ca to get emergency notifications. - Reviewing home insurance, since coverage needs may change as the climate changes. The District points to the federal government's website and Prepared BC's website. - Reading about local hazards in the North Shore Disaster and Climate Risk Profile at NSEM.ca.

Storm-related problems can be reported online at DNV.org/report. They can also be reported by phone at 604-990-2311 on weekdays or 604-990-3666 after hours.

The District also addressed evacuation. It says most emergencies that call for evacuation would not require people to leave the North Shore. Fires and floods are the most likely events, it says, and these usually affect a limited area. Evacuees would generally move to a nearby safe area on the North Shore.

The North Shore Evacuation Plan, created by North Shore Emergency Management (NSEM), divides the North Shore into seven evacuation zones. Three are in the District. Each zone is split into sub-zones with a transportation hub. Anyone who needs a ride can get transportation from there to a reception centre, where people can reunite with family, get information and receive support. Residents can find their zone and the evacuation guide at NSEM.ca/evacuation.

The District adds that after a disaster, rescue crews may take several days to reach some people. It encourages residents to prepare or update their emergency kits.