Emergency Preparedness

Awareness

Emergency preparedness means being ready for any situation. Begin by assessing the space around you, from the room you're in to your neighborhood. Consider how you would react in emergencies like fires or earthquakes. Regularly thinking about your response and needs is crucial.

Extend this awareness to your neighborhood. In the Highlands, our rural setting means houses are spread out, which can delay emergency response. Knowing your neighbors is vital. In an emergency, once you're safe, check on your neighbors to ensure their safety too. Building a network of support can be invaluable.

Historically, communities were more connected, but our digital age has led to isolation. Reconnecting with those around you strengthens your emergency preparedness.

Knowing your the hazards in your community is the first step to getting prepared. The Provincial Government provides a hazard map for you to see what could occur near you.

Planning

While we can't predict when emergencies will happen, we can anticipate the types. Emergency plans are essentially risk mitigation strategies. What would you do if you had to react to an emergency?

There are many online resources to help create your emergency plans,. A plan is only useful if it's made in advance. Creating one during an emergency often leads to incomplete actions or poor decisions. Writing your plans down beforehand allows you to plan calmly with all resources available. Remember, the internet may not be accessible during emergencies, so planning ahead is crucial.

The Provincial Government has an interactive Emergency Ready Plan to help. 

The District office offers a booklet called “Prepare Yourself” to help you start your emergency planning. You can also download it here. This guide provides basic information on how to be prepared.

Emergency Preparedness Kits

Your emergency kit will vary based on your situation. Consider how many people and pets it needs to support, and whether it's for your house, car, or office. Include basic survival items and consider additional elements like activity books for children, water purification tablets, and a basic tool kit. Remember to review and rotate food and water items annually due to their limited shelf life.

The location of your kit is crucial. It should be easily accessible, such as in your garage or by the front door, depending on your escape route.

Emergency preparedness takes some planning, but it’s worth the effort to ensure you’re ready to respond effectively.

The Provincial Government has great information to guide you when building your Emergency Kit and Grab and Go Bags.