Personal and Family Emergency Preparedness

Importance of Preparedness

We all have a role to play in emergency preparedness:

• Your local government is focused on delivering essential services

• Residents and businesses must also take steps to make sure they are prepared in the event of an emergency

If we take some very simple steps, then collectively we’ll be in a better position to manage the impact of an emergency.

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Preparedness Program

How easy is it for you to be ready

• There are seven (7) steps to be prepared

We can’t predict the future, but we can prepare for it

• Emergencies can happen anywhere and at any time

• You need to be ready to take care of yourself and those around you

• Your best protection in any emergency is knowing what to do

Before you begin your personal emergency plan GET INFORMED

• Consider the possible emergency situations or potential hazards

• Which hazards could affect you, your family, your neighborhood, your community

• Consider your neighbors. If they are elderly or disabled, they may need your help in an emergency.

There are always obstacles

“It can’t happen here”

“They must have everything under control”

“We can’t afford to do that”

“There are a lot of emergencies, you just can’t prepare for”

You're communities top risks are constantly being evaluated by you Community Emergency Management Coordinator

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Seven Essential Steps to Completing a Preparedness Program

1. Create an emergency communications plan

2. Establish a meeting place

3. Assemble an emergency preparedness kit

4. Learn about your community emergency plans

5. Learn about your children’s school emergency plans

6. Learn basic first aid

7. Know how and when to evacuate your house or the area

Step 1: Communications Plan

1. Choose an out-of-town contact who won’t be affected by the emergency

2. Make sure everyone in you home has the contact information

3. Provide emergency contact numbers to your children’s schools and your workplace

4. Limit telephone use in an emergency

Step 2: Designate a Meeting Place

1. Establish a meeting place away from home in case you can’t return home due to evacuation

2. Include arrangements for pets in your plans

3. Make sure the location will accept pets.

Step 3. Emergency Preparedness Kit

1. Basic Emergency Kit

   1. Includes basic supplies and a first aid kit

2. Hydration & Nutrition

   1. Adequate supplies for at least 72 hours

3. Emergency Car Kit

   1. Paper maps, blankets, food, flashlight

4. Important Family Documents

   1. Passports, birth certificates, health cards, prescriptions

5. Special Needs Kit

   1. Infants, seniors and persons with disabilities

Step 4: Your Community

1. Learn about community emergency plans

   1. Who do you call and what do you ask

   2. Record and post emergency numbers - 3-1-1, 9-1-1, 2-1-1

2. Learn about workplace emergency plans

Step 5: Schools, Daycares, Residences

1. Check on the emergency plan of your children’s schools or daycare and your parents seniors residence

   1. Their evacuation or shelter-in-place plan

   2. Their communication plan

   3. Their expectations on families

Step 6: Basic First Aid

1. Knowing first aid and CPR is crucial for emergency preparedness

2. Always tend to your own well being first, then help others

3. Is it safe to enter into the environment

Step 7: Emergency Evacuation

1. Know how & when to evacuate

   1. Who makes the decision

   2. Where are you going

   3. What should you bring

   4. What is the transportation route or means

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Impacts of an Emergency

• Critical Utilities – water, gas, electricity

• Health Services – medical devices, hospitals, prescriptions

• Pets – leave or take, supplies, acceptance

• Fuel Supply – gasoline, propane, diesel

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Useful Links

Get Prepared Canada

Emergency Management Ontario

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Create Your Emergency Preparedness Plan Today! -

It's Free and we'll send you a .pdf version of your plan for you to post