If you see, or are experiencing an emergency, it is important to report it to the proper authorities.

If you are in immediate, life-threatening danger, please dial 9-1-1. These are the numbers to call to report wide scale events (like forest fires or floods). These are 24-hour numbers and the fastest way to alert the appropriate local emergency officials.

If you see—or are experiencing—a wide scale event, please report it.

• FLOODING  250-489-9677
• FOREST OR WILDLAND FIRES  1-800-663-5555 or *5555 (cell)
• OTHER (spills, airplane crashes, landslides, avalanche)  250-489-9677

For the past two years, the RDEK has published an Emergency Awareness Newsletter to provide people with some season emergency related information.  To view the 2014 edition, click here.

It's also important to stay informed during emergencies -- and in this age of instant social media, it's even more important to make sure you are relying on reliable and trustworthy information. True story -- in 2013, a school dismissed students early because they heard flooding was going to take out a bridge on a school route. Children were dropped off early, parents did not know bus plans had changed, and it created a great deal of panic and confusion.  This decision was based on false stories generated on social media.  Please make sure you check your sources before sharing information in an emergency.

Here are some key ways to stay informed (and abreast of accurate emergency related information):

• Local media - your local media (meaning those based in your community)
• RDEK Facebook page - www.facebook.com/eastkootenay
• RDEK Email Group - to join our email group, send an email to communicationsdept@rdek.bc.ca and in the Subject Line write "Email Group" plus the name of your community (ie/ Hosmer, Rushmere, Brisco) or Electoral Area (ie/ A, C, E). Our lists are sorted by community/area so it's really important to give us a geographic location in the RDEK. This will help us ensure you receive news that is relevant to you.
• RDEK website
• Social Media - during emergencies, other forms of Social Media will also be used (such as Twitter). Links and instructions on how to follow these social media chains will be well publicized.