It’s Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada and this year’s theme is “Know Your Risks”. Regions right across the 705 are reminding residents that an emergency can happen at any time, so being prepared with the tools you’ll need to keep your family safe is essential. In the event of an emergency, you may forget some items you will need, so it’s best to have an emergency kit prepared ahead of time.
The Huntsville/Lake of Bays Fire Department is hosting an Emergency Preparedness event on Saturday, May 11th from 11:00 AM – 4:00 PM. This free public event is an opportunity to speak with emergency response agencies to learn all about preparing for an emergency including putting together a supply kit, safely setting up a generator, flood preparedness and much more. You can check that out at the Canada Summit Centre Parking Lot, 20 Park Drive in Huntsville.
The Town of Bracebridge is also reminding residents to be mindful of the unique challenges facing Ontario on a seasonal basis and the opportunities to practice emergency preparedness year-round. In a news release the town says that “…Muskoka is prone to extreme weather and power outages. It’s important to know how to react to these situations, but to also be prepared for the less likely occurrences as well.”
They also encourage everyone to download the Voyent Alert app which is available on Apple and Google Play. For more on being prepared, visit bracebridge.ca/emergencepreparedness.
A fast response from the health care system in an emergency is critical. The North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit is urging residents to be prepared for emergency events ranging from infectious diseases to extreme weather events and environmental hazards such as flooding and forest fires. To make sure they’re prepared to protect the public, The Health Unit participates in a range of activities carried out in coordination with 31 municipalities and other community partners. However, they emphasize that basic emergency preparedness starts with each individual and it is recommended that every household has an emergency management plan. Their emergency plan recommendations include:
- Know the risks. Consider that all municipalities are vulnerable to many potential emergencies like severe weather, chemical spills, or an influenza pandemic.
- Determine safe rooms in your home to use for shelter.
- Ensure that even young children know their address and phone number.
- Install smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on every level of your home and check that they are working each month.
- Have a working fire extinguisher on hand.
For more information on emergency preparedness, including how to build an emergency kit, visit www.GetPrepared.ca
Because of ever evolving elements, Thunder Bay Fire Rescue also says it’s essential to know the risk.
“It’s important that people have a plan to deal with an emergency in every season,” said Dennis Brescacin, Community Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Thunder Bay. “What may not be an issue in the summer could pose a definite hazard in an emergency in the winter.”
We know this is a lot of information with a variety of resources. We urge you to read them, but we have also put together a checklist to help you be prepared for emergency situations. Print it, fill in the information, put together your emergency kit, and keep a copy in the kit. Most people will understandably be flustered and upset in an emergency, so having a well-equipped emergency kit already in place is one less thing to worry about.
