
Business Continuity Resources
Emergency Preparedness: Be Proactive, Stay Informed, and Take Action.
Overview
Businesses need to be proactive and ready for any unexpected events. That’s why we have compiled the below list of resources, where you’ll find helpful tips and information to help you prepare for emergencies.
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations
Central Okanagan Emergency Operations is the region’s primary resource related to an emergency event. You will find the latest updates, an interactive map, preparedness resources, as well as a number of additional resources specific to a number of potential emergency situations. To stay informed, we encourage Central Okanagan residents to sign up for email updates to receive notification from the Emergency Program.
Business Continuity Resources

- Business Continuity Guides
Emergency Response Pocket Guide: The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety provides a guide to creating an emergency response plan to prepare for crisis situations.
Business Evacuation Guide: BCEDA highlights 10 things to consider if you do not have an evacuation plan.
Business Continuity Plan Checklist: BDC’s Step-by-step guidance to help your business prepare for and minimize the impact of emergencies on operations, employees, and customers.
Economic Disaster Preparedness Resources: A one-page disaster resources list for emergencies and disasters from the province of B.C.
Ready Rating Program: A program provided through the partnership of Canadian Red Cross and American Red cross that helps businesses, schools and organizations become better prepared for disasters and other emergencies.
Business Continuity & Disaster Recovery Plan: Government of BC’s Business Continuity Plans ensure government services and resources remain available and resume promptly after disruptions through coordinated inter-ministry and service provider efforts.
Emergency Plan for Small Businesses: Plan and prepare for emergencies that could interrupt operations.
Guide for Small Businesses: Ensuring your business is prepared to be up and running as soon as possible following any type of emergency or business disruption.
B.C. Tourism Emergency Management Framework: The Framework will help reduce the industry’s vulnerabilities and risks and lessen the potentially adverse impacts to visitor experiences during emergencies.
- General Emergency Preparedness
Business Safety Portal: Compile the health and safety resources you need in one convenient place in addition to 1-on-1 support.
PreparedBC Emergency Guides and Resources: Government of BC’s PreparedBC offers downloadable guides and fill-in-the-blank plans to help you prepare for emergencies.
Emergency Response & Recovery Information: Find current and official information during emergencies in B.C.
Emergency Preparedness BC: Resources to prepare and recover from a disaster.
Emergency Preparedness Canada: Emergency preparedness guidance from Government of Canada’s website, helping individuals and families plan for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.
Evacuee Registration & Assistance (ERA): Learn more about British Columbia’s Emergency Support Services (ESS) program, which offers short-term assistance to people displaced by emergencies or disasters.
Destination BC Emergency Resources: Resources and tools to help tourism operators in British Columbia prepare for and respond to emergencies (BC Emergency Management Framework, PreparedBC guides, crisis communication planning, and the Know Before You Go portal for visitors)
Tourism Resiliency Program: The Thompson Okanagan Tourism Resiliency Program provides 1-1 support to connect tourism operators to continuous education, financial resources, mental health resources, human resources expertise, and industry connections.
Communicable Disease Prevention: WorkSafeBC’s guide helps employers (excluding those with existing exposure control plans) develop a communicable disease plan with general and elevated-risk measures.
Provincial Level Emergency Management: The link offers comprehensive information on emergency management programs and resources provided by the Government of British Columbia.
Emergency Management in B.C.: Learn how the province is involved in emergencies and find resources for your household, neighbourhood and community.
- Wildfire Preparedness
BC Wildfire Service: Government of BC’s Wildfire prevention & active fire information.
FireSmart Canada: FireSmart™ Canada is a national program that helps Canadians increase neighbourhood resilience to wildfire and minimize its negative impacts.
AgSafe BC Wildfire Emergency Planning Resources: Links to evacuation support and financial assistance.
Agriculture Wildfire Preparation: Learn more about how to be prepared for wildfires if you work in B.C.’s agricultural industry.
Farm & Ranch FireSmart Assessment: Assess the risk from wildfire to your operation’s critical structures.
- Cyber Security
Canadian Centre for Cyber Security: Federal cybersecurity resource hub that helps businesses protect against cyber threats and demonstrate their cybersecurity readiness.
Information Security for Businesses: The basics of information security for small and medium sized businesses.
Small & Medium Organizations Cyber Security: Security controls that small and medium sized organizations should implement to meaningfully improve their cyber security.
CyberSecure Canada: The only international accreditation body that aims to raise the cyber security baseline among small and medium enterprises.
Provincial Information Security Policy & Guidelines: Government of BC’s standards and best practices to protect government information and technology assets.
Basics of Information Security: Practical guidance from Ministry of Citizens’ Services on implementing essential cybersecurity practices to protect sensitive data and maintain business continuity.
- Natural Disaster Preparedness
BC Air Quality Health Index: Provides an hourly rating of outdoor air quality based on the health risk from key pollutants.
Climate Preparedness & Adaptation Strategy: The Climate Preparedness and Adaptation Strategy strengthens our capacity to anticipate, reduce and manage climate risks.
Flooding Preparedness: Learn more about flood hazards in Canada, including how to prepare for, respond to, and recover from floods to reduce risk and damage.
Landslide Safety: Learn about landslide hazards from Government of BC’s website, including how to recognize risks, prepare in advance, and stay safe during and after a landslide.
Power Outage Preparedness Checklist: Government of BC’s preparedness and safety information, emergency kits, backup power and staying informed during power outages.
Power Outage Preparedness: Tips and resources from BC Hydro to help individuals and families prepare for power outages and stay safe during disruptions.
Interior Health Emergency Preparedness: Interior Health’s resources to help you prepare for natural disasters and emergencies before they happen.
DisasterSmartBC: A central hub designed to help communities across BC prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters.
- Agriculture Specific
Emergency Management for Agriculture: The ministry has a legislative requirement to have plans and procedures in place in the event of an emergency or disaster.
Agriculture Insurance and Income Protection: Manage business risks that are beyond control (production losses, severe market volatility, extreme weather events or disasters).
B.C. Drought Information Portal: The Drought Information Portal is a single source to access drought levels across geographic regions in British Columbia.
Livestock Relocation Program: Information from Government of BC on both commercial animals and farm pets to prepare ahead of an evacuation.
AgSafe BC Mental Wellness Resources: Offers free counseling and mental health resources.
BC Agriweather: Offers live and historical data from a local agricultural weather station including temperature, rainfall, humidity, wind, and other key metrics.
FCC Wellness Resources: Mental health support hub for Canadian agriculture communities, designed to help farmers and their families manage stress, anxiety, depression, and isolation.
AgTalk: AgTalk provides a safe and anonymous space where individuals 16+ can connect, share, and receive support from others across the agricultural and mental health community.
AgriStability: AgriStability helps farmers stay in business during years when profits are low. The program aims to protect food security for British Columbians and help BC farmers stay in business long-term.