Emergency Preparedness Week 2023 – May 7 to 13, 2023

Ontario’s first-ever Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan ensures that Ontarians are safe, practiced and prepared before, during and after emergencies. The plan sets a foundation for emergency management in Ontario, informed by emergency events across the province, and placing the most vulnerable, including but not limited to Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, seniors, racialized communities, and persons experiencing poverty and at risk for homelessness, at the centre of planning, preparedness and mitigation.

From wildland fires to flooding, tornadoes, windstorms, cyber security threats, and pandemics, there has been a significant increase in emergencies across Canada and Ontario. The Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan builds on lessons learned from past emergencies including the COVID-19 pandemic which was the single largest provincial emergency in decades.

Visit Ontario’s Provincial Emergency Management Strategy and Action Plan for more information.

 72 Hours: Is Your Family Prepared?

If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 7-13, 2023) encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. This special week is a national effort lead by Public Safety Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector.

By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It is important to:

Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare.

Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do.

Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.

Please do your part!  Experience has shown that individual preparedness goes a long way to help people cope better – both during and after a major disaster. Get an emergency kit now – it can make a world of difference.

Preparing for Emergencies

All it takes is three simple steps to get prepared for emergencies:

1. Be Informed.

Top risks include:

• Flooding
• Severe Winter Weather (Snow Storm, Blizzard, Ice, Sleet Storm)
• Human Health Emergencies and Epidemics
• Widespread Electrical Disruption
• Fires

2. Make a Plan

Every family should have an emergency plan. Create your own plan online.  Discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies that are most likely to happen where you live and work.  Identify two places for your family to meet.  Develop a plan so your family can stay in touch during an emergency.  Check with your employer about workplace emergency plans, including:

Fire alarms
Emergency exits
Meeting points
Designated safety personnel or floor wardens
You may want to have some basic supplies at work, such as water and food that won’t spoil, in case you need to stay put for a while.
Plan for your Children, for Seniors or your Pets

Ask your children’s school or daycare about their emergency policies. Find out how they will contact families during an emergency.

Make sure the school or daycare has updated contact information for parents, caregivers and designated persons.

Prepare a kit to take with you that includes contact numbers, medications and special needs supplies for Seniors.

In case of an evacuation, remember that pets may not be allowed in some hotels or evacuation centres. In case of an evacuation, prepare to take your pets with you to the home of a relative or friend, or take steps to identify pet-friendly hotels or pet boarding facilities in your area and further away from home.

3. Get an Emergency Kit

Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Ensure that everyone in the household knows where the emergency kit is. Create a “go bag” in case you have to evacuate your home:

• Battery powered radio and extra batteries
• Flashlight with extra batteries
• Lightweight blankets
• Emergency information, including insurance policies
• A list of medications and correct dosage, and doctor’s names and numbers
• Personal items such as toothbrushes, soap, extra eyeglasses, etc.
• Cell phone and charger
• First aid kit
• Change of clothing
• Non-perishable snacks
• Books, cards or magazines to pass the time
• Cash
• Extra keys for your car and house
• Keep photocopies of important family records and documents in a waterproof, portable container
• If applicable, infant supplies
• 3-day supply of food for your household
• 72-hour supply of water
• Prescription medication
• Health-related supplies
• Assistive devices
• Pet emergency kit

You should also consider keeping an emergency kit in your car:

• Snow brush, ice scraper and shovel

• Booster cables
• Flashlight
• First aid kit
• Water and emergency food supply
• Blanket
• Spare warm clothing
• Hat, mitts, scarf, and boots
• Windshield wiper fluid and gas-line antifreeze
• Sand, salt, cat litter or traction mats for ice
• Emergency flares
• Emergency contact numbers (including roadside assistance)
• Fire extinguisher
• Whistle
• Spare fuel container (kept out of passenger area of the vehicle)
• Road maps
• Car charger or power bank for cellphone

 Where can I find information?

Our Fire Chief has stopped and given reminders to numerous stakeholders while he continues to work tirelessly with the assistance of the Fire Department and the Roads Department on the aftermath of the storm. Restrictions are imposed to keep everyone safe – please help the Fire Department by following those restrictions. Day burning is PROHIBITED from 7am to 7pm daily.