Emergency Preparedness Week 2026: Community Readiness and Wildfire Resilience
Join Comox Valley Emergency Management partners at Wildfire Preparedness Community Day on May 9 and get ready for a hot, dry summer.
This free, family-friendly event will bring together fire and emergency services and agency partners to demonstrate and share practical tips and tricks for reducing wildfire risk while strengthening emergency preparedness at home and in your neighborhood.
Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3-9)
Throughout Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3 to 9), watch for Comox Valley Emergency Management booths set up at grocery stores across the region, offering information and resources to help residents take simple steps towards being better prepared. Watch for the team at:
- River Never Sleeps Festival (Rosewall Creek Hatchery, Fanny Bay) – May 3, 10 am - 3 pm
- Comox Mall (Hugh's Independent Grocer ) – May 4, 3-5 pm
- Real Canadian Superstore – May 6, 3-5 pm
- Thrifty’s (Cliffe Avenue) – May 7, 3-5 pm
Join Us: Wildfire Community Preparedness Day
- Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- Comox Valley Farmers Market | 4839 Headquarters Rd.
- Day-of Activities:
- Demonstrations
- Games
- Equipment tours
- DIY tips
- Prizes
- and more!
Activities include:
- 9:30-9:50am: DIY an air filter from your home using household items (at Island Health booth)
- 10am: Plant and Mulch Talk (at Smoke/Fire House display)
- 11-11:30: DIY an air filter from your home using household items (at Island Health booth)
- All day: Comox Fire tent - learning CPR basics and how to use a fire extinguisher
- All day: Scavenger Hunt! Go to 6 emergency tents, get your card stamped, and bring your filled cards to the FireSmart tent for a prize!
Look for Ember, FireSmart's mascot, on site between 10am and noon!
See how taking just a few FireSmart™ steps to reduce the risk of ignition from embers on your property can help protect your home, and your neighbours too. Embers can travel up to 10 km, which means small actions taken across a neighbourhood can make a big difference to the whole community during a wildfire.
At this event, emergency services partners and local fire department personnel will be on site with interactive displays, live demonstrations, and hands on activities, prizes and more for all ages. You’ll learn how to:
- Reduce ember ignition risks around your home
- Apply FireSmart™ principles in practical, achievable ways
- Strengthen your household and neighbourhood emergency ready plans
- Build a grab and go bag that supports safe and timely evacuation
Come explore, ask questions, and build confidence in the steps that keep our communities safer during wildfire season.
Don't delay - request a FireSmart Assessment for your property today!
FireSmart Assessment Form
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Emergency Preparedness for Your Household
Each year, thousands of people face emergency situations that could change their lives forever. Don't be caught off-guard. Know the hazards in your area. Take the time to create a Home Emergency Plan and assemble your Emergency Kit and one Grab-and-Go Bag for each member of your household.
If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. Learn how quick and easy it is to become better prepared for when emergency strikes. These basic steps will help you take care of yourself and your loved ones.
Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP)
Comox Valley Emergency Management offers Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program (NEPP) to support residents and neighbours with important information and tools to help them become better prepared as a team in case of an emergency.
Unsure on where to start? Let the NEPP Guide help you prepare your neighbourhood for emergencies and disaster. Contact us if you wish to chat with one of the NEPP facilitators.
Register for Emergency Notifications
Want to receive emergency notifications to your landline or mobile phone? Sign up to Get Notified and ensure you're prepared and ready to respond if an emergency arises.
The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD), City of Courtenay, Town of Comox, Village of Cumberland, and K’ómoks First Nation have partnered together to distribute local emergency notifications by text message and voice calls through a software platform called Connect Rocket. These notifications are intended to inform you about incidents that could impact you. By working together, we can take proactive steps to build a safer and more resilient community.
Get Notified
*Remember to verify your information in the system once per year.
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