During an emergency
When an emergency is declared, you will be directed to evacuate, shelter-in-place, or remain on standby for further information.
Evacuations
While not all emergencies result in an evacuation, it’s important to know the three evacuation stages in the event an emergency requires you to leave the area:
- Evacuation Alert: Be ready to leave on short notice. Pack your grab-and-go bag if you haven’t already done so.
- Evacuation Order: You are at risk. You must leave the area immediately. It may be impossible to leave later. Follow the instructions provided.
- Evacuation Order Rescind: The risk to life and safety has now passed.
What to do when you receive an evacuation order
- Leave the area immediately with your household grab-and-go bag.
- Follow evacuation instructions provided to you via Whistler Alert, whistler.ca, the RMOW X account, or RMOW Facebook page.
- Evacuees should first seek shelter with friends or family outside of the evacuation area. If you don’t have a place to go, the Emergency Support Services (ESS) program may be able to support you. The reception centre information will be posted at whistler.ca if a reception centre is activated.
- Continually monitor whistler.ca, the RMOW’s Facebook page, and the RMOW X account for updates.
- Wait for the evacuation order to be rescinded before returning home.
Shelter-in-place
For some emergencies, it may be safest to stay inside. Shelter-in-place means staying indoors with windows and doors shut, ideally in a room without windows.
- Close and lock all windows and exterior doors.
- Turn off all fans, vents, and heating and air conditioning systems, and close any fireplace dampers.
- If possible, take refuge in a small, interior room with few or no windows. Additional protection can be provided for window and door openings by using plastic sheeting and sealing with duct tape.
- Although most shelter-in-place orders usually last a few hours, take your family emergency kit into the room with you so you and your family and pets have a supply of food, bottled water, first aid supplies, and medications on hand.
- Stay informed by tuning into Whistler’s local and trusted channels to know when it’s safe to leave your shelter or if you need to evacuate the area.
Remaining on standby
Monitor reliable sources for up-to-date information. The most important thing to do during an emergency is to stay informed and follow the direction of trusted sources provided by the RMOW.
Oftentimes, misinformation is unintentionally shared by word of mouth or on unofficial social media accounts, creating confusion and panic. Bookmark or preprogram your local trusted emergency information sources:
- Whistler.ca website
- Sign up to receive notifications through Whistler Alert
- Facebook: @rmwhistler
- Twitter: @rmwhistler
- Pique Newsmagazine
- Mountain FM 102.1
What happens after an emergency
If you have been evacuated or asked to shelter-in-place, you will be notified when it’s safe to either return to your home or exit the place you are sheltering within.
Do not return to your home or leave your shelter unless you are directed to do so, as this puts yourself, your family, and emergency responders’ lives at risk.
Whistler’s Community Recovery Plan
Whistler’s Community Recovery Plan (PDF) details how the RMOW plans to work with organizations to support community members recovering from an emergency. The Resort Municipality of Whistler created the Community Recovery Plan with the Community Foundation of Whistler, Whistler Community Services Society, and the Canadian Red Cross Society.
Financial assistance
After a disaster, the provincial government may declare the event eligible for disaster financial assistance. Financial assistance is meant to compensate for sudden, unexpected, and uninsurable losses. This may include:
- Building repairs
- Replacement of essential personal effects, eligible equipment, and inventory
- Clean-up and debris removal