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:

• Only share information from official sources—refer to the links below to keep visitors and locals informed.
   
• Help your customers as much as possible. Many will be seeking 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, which includes a live feed from our webcam located at the Kelowna Visitor Centre that can be viewed anytime as well as 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 where you'll 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

EmergencyInfoBC

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

Central Okanagan Emergency Operations Centre

• Visit cordemergency.ca for information on any current emergencies in the Central Okanagan Regional District.
• Follow Central Okanagan Emergency Operations on Twitter. 

Tourism Resources

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 and Twitter.

Thompson Okanagan Tourism Association (TOTA)

• TOTA's Know Before You Go page provides a variety of resources and important updates for the region. 
• Connect with TOTA on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.

Tourism Kelowna

• Our Current Conditions in Kelowna webpage provides a variety of 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 for industry updates.

Government of BC Resources

BC Emergency Support Services

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

BC Parks

• Information regarding Provincial campgrounds and park closures. 
• Follow BC Parks on Facebook and Instagram. 

DriveBC

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

PreparedBC

• PreparedBC has created step-by-step guides specific to the tourism industry, which will help ensure you and your team are ready in an emergency situation:
  • Guide for Tourism Operators
  • Emergency Plan for Tourism Operators
• Follow PreparedBC on Facebook and Twitter.

Recreation Sites and Trails B.C.

• Find alerts, closures, and warnings regarding BC’s rustic campsites and recreational trails, and access an interactive map

Emergency Evacuation and Recovery Information

• Visit this page on the Government of BC website for information on what to expect during and after an evacuation. 
• Follow the Government of BC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

TranBC

• Information and updates from BC's Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. 
• Follow TranBC on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.