Photo: redcross.ca

Government officials are looking for people to survive a massive natural disaster.

The Province and Emergency Management BC are planning an earthquake and tsunami response exercise for June 7-10, in Port Alberni called Exercise Coastal Response.

To make this exercise as real as possible for the teams involved, officials are asking for the public’s help.

They are looking for people to volunteer in two categories:

Medical patients: You will work with first responders and Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR). You will be treated to a medical makeover with movie quality makeup artists and given a patient care script to follow during the course of your treatment.

Emergency social service (ESS) clients: You will work with ESS teams located at reception and housing centres and represent those in need of shelter, food and water.

Volunteers will receive a letter of recognition for your role in the exercise.

Organizers are also looking for materials and would like to hear about anything that can enhance the realism of the exercise including: boats, trucks or even junk that can help with Heavy Urban Search and Rescue (HUSAR) training.

For further clarification on what is needed in terms of material and volunteer support, call 250-720-2709 or email [email protected] to connect with the volunteer co-ordinators.

“A plan is only as good as the paper it’s written on unless you exercise it, test it and improve it. During this exercise in Port Alberni, the Province will work closely with our First Nations and local authority partners to show how B.C. will support a coastal community in the event of an earthquake and tsunami. The Province has taken significant strides to progress our earthquake preparedness, and it’s safe to say we now lead the nation,” said Minister of State for Emergency Preparedness Naomi Yamamoto.