Emergency Services

Salt Spring Island Emergency Program

Who We Are

The Salt Spring Island Emergency Program is a CRD entity made up of allied emergency response groups including Search and Rescue, RCMP, Emergency Social Services, BC Ambulance, Coast Guard, CRD, BC Hydro, BC Ferries, Vancouver Island Health Authority, North Salt Spring Water District, Amateur Radio Communications and Salt Spring Island Fire/Rescue. We ensure that Salt Spring Island residents and visitors are aware of possible dangers on the island, including wildfires, earthquakes, tsunamis and severe weather events.

Emergency Preparedness Information

Preparedness Kits

For anyone to be thoroughly prepared for a disaster event there are three recommended kits:

Grab & Go Bag - to be used if you are being evacuated to an Emergency Social Services reception centre:

Grab and Go Bag Checklist (PDF )

Car Kit – to be used if a disaster hits while you are in your car, away from home or if you need to drive away from the area:

Emergency Car Kit Checklist (PDF )

7-Day Kit – to be used when still within your home during such events as power outages, severe storms or earthquakes (checklist coming soon!)

All these kits can be made up from items in your home.

POD (Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Program)

General Information

Salt Spring Island has a neighbourhood emergency preparedness program known as POD. There are 50+ neighbourhood PODS identified on Salt Spring Island. The POD program was designed to develop a positive partnership with responders and residents with the goal of building community resilience during emergencies. The focus is to:

Assist residents in being personally prepared;
Build emergency neighbourhood teams;
Provide emergency workshops and exercises for residents;
Develop a communication link between POD Leaders and the Salt Spring Island Emergency Operations Centre; and,
Enhance the response and recovery time within your community.
SSI POD Map (PDF )

Structure of POD Program

The POD structure consists of:

At least two POD leaders per POD
At least two neighbourhood leaders per street/area

Leaders help develop a detailed assessment and neighbourhood plan which would include:

Neighbourhood/POD contact list
Identifying key resources and skills of residents
Identifying evacuation routes, assembly or muster points
Area hazard assessment
POD communications plan

Status of POD Program

This program is still looking for more leaders within certain areas. Leaders start within the community.

POD status list (PDF )

For more information contact the SSI Emergency Program Coordinator via email.

Salt Spring Island Electoral Area