Stay informed, stay safe

safety & emergency preparedness

Emergency situations impact locals, visitors, and businesses in many ways and can potentially affect or influence those who may be travelling or planning a trip to our province or region. 

Here are some things your business or organization can do to help when emergency situations arise:

• To keep visitors and locals informed, only share information from official sources (refer to the links in the next section below).
   
• Help your customers as much as possible. Many will seek information on local conditions or flexibility with their reservations or bookings. Do what you can to help each other.
     
• If the situation is caused by a significant weather event, share the link to our Current Conditions in Kelowna webpage. This webpage includes a live feed from our webcam located at the Kelowna Visitor Centre that can be viewed anytime and links to other helpful resources. 
   
• Share information and updates about your business by tagging us—and using #exploreKelowna—on social media and by contacting our Community & Visitor Engagement Team so we can keep visitors and residents informed.

Helpful Resources to Stay Safe and Stay Informed

Sharing information from official sources only is extremely important during emergency situations, like floods and wildfires. Below are resources to find reliable, up-to-date information that can inform your team, visitors, and locals. Be sure to distribute these resources to your team members and follow the social media accounts listed throughout for the most current information.

Emergency Information & Support

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre

• Visit cordemergency.ca for information on current emergencies in the Central Okanagan Regional District.
• Follow Central Okanagan Emergency Operations on Facebook and X (formerly Twitter). 

EmergencyInfoBC

• Find information about emergencies in the province, including evacuation orders and alerts. 
• Follow EmergencyInfoBC on X (formerly Twitter).

BC Emergency Support Services

BC residents forced to evacuate in an emergency (e.g., fire, flood, etc.) can self-register for assistance and support through the BC Emergency Support Services website. 

Tourism Resources

Tourism Kelowna

• Our Current Conditions in Kelowna webpage provides useful links, including contact information for our Community & Visitor Engagement team, and displays #RealTimeKelowna views from our webcam at the Kelowna Visitor Centre.
• Connect with us on LinkedIn or subscribe to our Industry News Centre Updates to stay informed.

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

• TOTA's Know Before You Go page provides resources and important regional updates. 
• Connect with TOTA on Facebook, LinkedIn, and X (formerly Twitter).

Destination BC

• Destination BC (DBC) has compiled a robust directory of resources for tourism industry members on their Emergency Preparedness page, where you can also access messaging guidance, key messages, infographics, and more.
• Connect with DBC on LinkedIn.

Government of BC Resources

PreparedBC

• PreparedBC has created step-by-step guides specific to the tourism industry, linked below, which will help ensure you and your team are ready in an emergency situation.
  • Guide for Tourism Operators
  • Emergency Plan for Tourism Operators
• PreparedBC's social media channels:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • X (formerly Twitter)

BC Wildfire Service

• BC Wildfire Map: An interactive map of all active wildfires across the province, including wildfires of note.
• Fire Bans and Restrictions
• The official BC Wildfire Service mobile app is available for free download in the App Store and on Google Play.
• BC Wildfire Service's social media channels:
  • Facebook
  • X (formerly Twitter)

BC Air Quality Health Index

• Provides current and forecasted air quality information, as well as health messages for the current conditions. 

DriveBC

• Find information about road closures, major events, and transportation delays. 
• Follow DriveBC on X (formerly Twitter).

TranBC

• Find information and updates from BC's Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. 
• TranBC's social media channels:
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • ​X (formerly Twitter).

BC Parks

• Find information regarding Provincial campgrounds and park closures. 
  • Active Advisories
  • Wildfire Advisories
• BC Parks' social media channels:
  • Instagram
  • Facebook

Recreation Sites and Trails B.C.

• Alerts, closures, and warnings regarding BC’s rustic campsites and recreational trails.
• Interactive map