Emergency Preparedness Week: May 5 to 11
Being prepared for an emergency can help you and your loved ones get through a tough and unexpected situation.
We need to be prepared for all sorts of situations in Sturgeon County: extreme heat, flooding, hail, high winds, power outages, and fires. When we’re prepared, we can protect ourselves, our family and our property.
This Emergency Preparedness Week – running from May 5 to 11 – the theme is “Be Ready for Anything. Know Your Risks.” We’ve compiled seven simple steps to increase your personal preparedness; take one step per day in less than 20 minutes.
Enter to win!
The Sturgeon Regional Emergency Management Partnership would like to help you be prepared. Enter to win an emergency preparedness kit or flashlight analog radio at sremp.ca.
1. Learn where to go for emergency information.
Staying informed can save your life. Download the following apps to your phone; make sure notifications are turned on:
- Sturgeon County
- Alberta Emergency Alert
- Alberta Fire Bans
- Alberta Rivers
- Environment Canada (WeatherCAN)
Bookmark the following websites:
- Sturgeon County
- Sturgeon Regional Emergency Management Partnership
- Alberta Emergency Alert
- Alberta Fire Bans
- Environment Canada: weather alerts
- Alberta River Basins: flood alerts
2. Make a household emergency plan.
Use Public Safety Canada’s online template to create your household emergency plan in just 20 minutes! This plan will guide you and your family – including pets and livestock – through an emergency.
3. Build an emergency kit.
Build an emergency kit to support you and your family for at least 72 hours. You’ll need items like water, non-perishable food, candles, lighter, battery-powered or crank flashlights and radio, first aid kit and more. You may be surprised by how many of these items you already have at home!
4. Learn the hazards in the area.
Knowing the potential emergencies you could face – including floods, severe storms, wildfires and power outages – allows you and your family to plan your response.
5. Know the general steps to take in an emergency.
Individuals and families should be prepared to take care of themselves for a minimum of 72 hours during an emergency. During an emergency, you’ll want to activate your household emergency plan, tune in to local radio for updates from authorities and follow all advice from authorities.
6. Make sure your home and belongings are insured.
Call your insurance company and confirm you have the coverage you need for the hazards in the area. Consider making a list or taking a video of your belongings; store this information on an external drive outside your home or save it in a secure place online.
Learn what to do during an emergency.
7. Make simple home improvements to protect your property.
Little actions can make a big difference in preventing floods and fire.
- Use weather protection sealant around basement windows and the base of ground-level doors.
- Ensure downspouts are pointed away from buildings so they move water away from the property.
- Install a sump pump and zero reverse flow valves in basement floor drains if possible.
- Install smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms on every flood; check batteries often.
- Remove items that can burn (dried leaves, lawn furniture, firewood, etc.) from within 1.5 metres of your home.
Learn more about how you can prepare for emergencies.
Sturgeon Regional Emergency Management Partnership
In 2016, Bon Accord, Gibbons, Legal, Morinville, Redwater and Sturgeon County formed the Sturgeon Regional Emergency Management Partnership. Working under one Emergency Management Plan, the partnership helps member municipalities prepare for, respond to and recover from emergency events.
Emergency Preparedness Week is recognized annually to encourage Canadians to get prepared for emergencies. While federal, provincial and local governments/agencies prepare for emergencies and provide emergency response, people like you also have a role. Learn more at sturgeoncounty.ca/emergency-preparedness.
