Bruce County is reminding residents that now is the perfect time to refresh or create a Family Emergency Preparedness Plan.
With extreme weather events possible year-round and even cyber incidents that can disrupt daily life, emergencies can unfold quickly and without warning.
Bruce County says reviewing or creating your Emergency Preparedness Plan should include the following:
Step 1 – Know the Risks
Every community faces different hazards. Locally, risks that residents may encounter include:
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Severe winter weather, bringing blizzard conditions and prolonged power outages.
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Flooding, particularly during spring melt or after heavy rain.
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Tornadoes, which can develop with little warning.
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Cyber incidents, which can affect communications, utilities and essential services.
Step 2 – Make a Home Emergency Preparedness Plan
Your Emergency Preparedness Plan should outline how your family will stay safe and support one another during an emergency.
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Plan for how you will care for your family for several days if there’s a delay or excessive demand for emergency services.
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Decide on meeting places to reunite with family or roommates.
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Review your children’s school emergency procedures.
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Include places for your pet to stay.
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Decide on contact people close-by and out-of-town.
You can use a fill-in-the-blank template from Canadian Red Cross or use the Government of Canada’s website to make an Emergency Preparedness Plan to print out.
Keep your complete Emergency Preparedness Plan with your Emergency Kit, so you know exactly where to find it.
Also, be sure to discuss with your family how each might affect your home, workplace and daily routines.
More information, tools and resources:
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Government of Canada Emergency Management: www.getprepared.gc.ca
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Ontario Emergency Management: www.ontario.ca/page/be-prepared-emergency
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Bruce County Emergency Management: www.brucecounty.on.ca/getprepared