Emergency preparedness in Langley: alerts, floods, wildfire smoke

Langley’s two municipalities each run their own emergency program. The City page notes that the Township gave notice in January 2023 that it would withdraw from the Joint Langley Emergency Program, which had served both communities for almost 25 years, so you will find separate pages and contacts for each. Our City versus Township guide explains the split if you are unsure which is yours.

Know the hazards

The City program page lists fire, flood, extreme cold, extreme heat and drought as common hazards in the City. It suggests three steps: know your hazards, make a household plan covering evacuation routes, meeting places and contacts, and build kits. It calls for a Grab & Go Bag for each household member plus a household kit that can sustain you for at least 72 hours, with up to two weeks recommended. The page says PreparedBC offers an interactive plan template.

Floods and the river

The Township page on flooding explains that staff clear catch basins and culverts, watch Fraser River levels and snowpack forecasts from the BC River Forecast Centre, and inspect dikes. It advises clearing gutters, ditches and drains, and never driving through a flooded, closed road. It also says flooding can force evacuations on short notice and recommends a household plan, a grab-and-go bag and plans for pets, livestock and medications. If a major flood damages your property, it says you may qualify for Disaster Financial Assistance. Check the Township’s flooding page for current notices.

Storms and power outages

The Township’s extreme weather page suggests a kit with food, water, blankets, a flashlight, a battery-powered radio and any medication. During a storm it says to stay away from downed lines and wooded areas. It says to report an outage or hanging line to BC Hydro at 1-800-224-9376 or *49376. It also tells residents to sign up for Environment Canada’s public weather alerts, and notes snow-clearing rules for sidewalks. That page gave no specific heat, cold or wildfire smoke guidance, so for smoke and heat look to your health authority and the provincial sites linked from the municipal pages.

Help after an emergency

Emergency Support Services is a provincially funded program the Township runs. Its page says it gives people displaced from their homes up to 72 hours of help with shelter, food and clothing. The City’s emergency program also coordinates ESS for City residents. Both rely on volunteers and both recruit through their websites; see also our volunteer opportunities page.

Staying informed

Neither the Township’s emergency page nor the City’s described a dedicated alert system when we checked; both point to their eNewsletters. The Township’s flood page also suggests following Township social media. Sign up for what they offer, and for the Environment Canada alerts.

For the hospital, see Langley Memorial Hospital. For the police, see Langley RCMP.

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