The Regional District Central Okanagan (RDCO) is launching a public awareness and engagement campaign as the freshet and wildfire seasons approach.

Staff told the RDCO Board at its April 11 meeting that the initiative aims to assess and enhance residents含羞草研究社� preparedness for emergencies.

含羞草研究社淭he overarching goal is to encourage communities to take steps to be better prepared,含羞草研究社� said Kari O含羞草研究社橰ourke, communications officer.

Campaign goals include ensuring residents know where to get emergency information, how to put together a 72-hour emergency kit, and how to support neighbours.

Referencing the McDougall Creek wildfire, West Kelowna May Gord Milsom said he would like evacuation, alert and emergency services registration information put out quickly during an emergency.

含羞草研究社淲e don含羞草研究社檛 know when we含羞草研究社檙e going to be faced with another wildfire, but it含羞草研究社檚 on the minds of our residents, particularly after last year,含羞草研究社� he added. 含羞草研究社淲e want to make sure they know what to do if they含羞草研究社檙e called upon to leave their homes again.含羞草研究社�

The NDP government was criticized for a backlog of evacuees waiting for support and accommodation during the McDougall Creek fire.

READ MORE: BC United claims NDP punishing West Kelowna evacuees

READ MORE: Premier Eby tours wildfire devastation in Central Okanagan

Milsom含羞草研究社檚 neighbour to the south, Peachland Mayor Patrick Van Minsel pointed out that while communication is key, getting the public含羞草研究社檚 attention is equally important.

He used the low turnout for his community含羞草研究社檚 FireSmart Open House on April 6 as an example.

含羞草研究社淎 hundred of my residents, it含羞草研究社檚 not even one per cent of the total population,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淭he way that we found is best to communicate with them, is having a newsletter direct in their mailbox.含羞草研究社�

Van Minsel added the board could also lobby senior government for additional funding for wildfire mitigation work.

A grant for residents to FireSmart their properties was recently increased to $1,000 from $500. Lake Country Mayor Blair Ireland felt that amount is still not enough.

含羞草研究社淢any of these private properties are like guns pointed at our communities and their neighbours,含羞草研究社� he said. 含羞草研究社淲e含羞草研究社檙e not incentivizing those people enough.含羞草研究社�

The Community Readiness Public Engagement runs from April 15 to May 12 and will include open houses, and media campaigns.

Additional resources are available on the and websites.

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