Members of the West ShoreB次元官网网址檚 volunteer fire departments, along with emergency responders of all stripes, had a unified message Sunday at the Juan de Fuca recreation centre: be prepared.

The annual Emergency Preparedness Fair in Colwood attracted hundreds of visitors from well beyond the West Shore, anxious to see fire trucks and other equipment up close, engage in hands-on activities and learn more about how to ready their homes for potential disasters.

View Royal Fire Rescue Lt. Troy Mollin, one of the co-ordinators of the event, had a stack of booklets at the departmentB次元官网网址檚 stall on the JdF parking lot, entitled Prepare Yourself: A Guide to Emergency Preaparedness in the Capital Region. The guide is a comprehensive yet easy-to-read reference for people to learn how to stay safe in a disaster, be self-sufficient for seven days, connect with family afterward and reduce risks of property damage.

B次元官网网址淚t great because it shows people how to build a kit and make a plan,B次元官网网址� Mollin said.

The free booklet is available at your local fire department or municipal hall, as well as online at prepareyourself.ca.

editor@goldstreamgazette.com