SEPAR Preparedness

Being ready before disaster strikes is the cornerstone of SEPAR’s effectiveness. Our preparedness program combines rigorous training, frequent exercises, and dependable equipment to ensure that our volunteers are capable, confident, and responsive when called upon.

Training and Exercises

SEPAR members train regularly to maintain proficiency in emergency communications protocols, equipment handling, and situational response. Our training follows the guidelines of Emergency Management BC and is designed to ensure our volunteers integrate smoothly with the City of Surrey’s emergency operations.

Activities include:

• Weekly radio check-ins from home, work, or mobile locations to test individual equipment and citywide communication links.
  
  

• Monthly testing of the Inter-Municipal Emergency Radio System (IMERS), which links Surrey’s Emergency Operations Centre with neighbouring municipalities and the Provincial Regional Emergency Operations Centre (PREOC).
  
  

• Field exercises that simulate real-world scenarios such as evacuations, power outages, and infrastructure failures.
  
  

• Safety training, including the development and implementation of protocols for working in disaster zones.
  
  

Training is not just about individual skill — it's about coordination, reliability, and trust. SEPAR members understand their role within a larger emergency response framework and practice accordingly.

Equipment and Facilities

SEPAR operates a wide range of amateur radio equipment across various sites in Surrey to ensure redundancy and flexibility:

• Fire Hall 1 houses a permanent radio room used for EOC operations and IMERS testing.

• Fire Hall 10 and 11 host mobile “grab and go” kits and trailers, including the SEPAR Remote Operations Trailer and the "Bigfoot" trailer with a 100-foot deployable tower.

• The SEPAR Operations and Training Centre (OTC) provides a shared facility with South Fraser Search and Rescue, offering additional radio room capability and classroom space for ongoing education.
  
  

Each SEPAR member is expected to maintain their own communications gear — usually handheld or mobile VHF/UHF radios, and in some cases, HF equipment for long-range communication. Members are also encouraged to prepare personal emergency kits with backup power sources, antennas, and safety supplies.

Though SEPAR does not own any repeater infrastructure, we operate in close partnership with the Surrey Amateur Radio Communications Society (SARC), which maintains:

• Two VHF repeaters

• One UHF repeater

• One 220 MHz repeater

• A Winlink gateway for sending email via radio, hardened by the BC WARN network

These resources allow SEPAR to maintain strong citywide and regional communication links during exercises and emergencies alike. Preparedness is more than a checklist — it’s a mindset. SEPAR trains to be effective under pressure, no matter the conditions.