Emergency Preparedness: Do You Have a Plan?
72 hours: is your family prepared?
If there is no power, we can not charge cell phones and computers or use cordless phones in our homes. How will we hear the news if we can’t turn on the radio or TV or use our electronic devices? If we are told to shelter-in-place, we will not be able to go out and buy food, water and other supplies we need. Evacuation means that we need to quickly gather essentials and leave for an unknown period of time.
If a debilitating storm was forecast today, would you and your family be prepared for it when it hit? What if it took out the power grid in your municipality and surrounding areas? Could you sustain a prolonged power outage? How would you stay warm? Would you be able to cook the food that thaws in your freezer? Would you be able to flush your toilet more than once?*
A little planning can go a long way to lessen the impact on us, at a time we hope we never have to experience. The emergency management experts say we need to be able to take care of ourselves, our family and our pets for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency. They recommend knowing the risks, making a plan and preparing an emergency kit.
Resources
There are several resources available to help you be prepared to fend for yourself for 72 hours:
- Know the risks
- Make a plan
- Have an emergency kit
If there is no power, we can not charge cell phones and computers or use cordless phones in our homes. How will we hear the news if we can’t turn on the radio or TV or use our electronic devices? If we are told to shelter-in-place, we will not be able to go out and buy food, water and other supplies we need. Evacuation means that we need to quickly gather essentials and leave for an unknown period of time.
If a debilitating storm was forecast today, would you and your family be prepared for it when it hit? What if it took out the power grid in your municipality and surrounding areas? Could you sustain a prolonged power outage? How would you stay warm? Would you be able to cook the food that thaws in your freezer? Would you be able to flush your toilet more than once?*
A little planning can go a long way to lessen the impact on us, at a time we hope we never have to experience. The emergency management experts say we need to be able to take care of ourselves, our family and our pets for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency. They recommend knowing the risks, making a plan and preparing an emergency kit.
Resources
There are several resources available to help you be prepared to fend for yourself for 72 hours:
- You can download an emergency preparedness guide, published by Public Safety Canada
- Information is also available at Alberta Emergency Management Agency
- Calgary Emergency Management Agency