Your Community

Emergency Preparedness

Guide Book

BE PREPARED FOR AN EMERGENCY OR DISASTER IN YOUR COMMUNITY

Be Alert, Be Informed

     Emergencies and disasters can occur anytime, anywhere.  Some are primarily seasonal and allow for some preparations; others occur swiftly and without warning.  Your key to surviving an emergency is to be prepared.

     You can lessen an emergency's impact by knowing what to do before, during and after one occurs.  Begin by learning how to recognize an emergency warning.

• Know the warning systems your local government uses.  Learn to recognize what the signals are, what they mean and what action to take when you hear them.

• Find out which local radio and TV stations broadcast emergency instructions and monitor them regularly, particularly during uncertain weather conditions.  Post the dial/channel numbers of these stations for easy access.  Have an arrangement in place with neighbours to advise one another of an emergency notification.

• Be familiar with your workplace emergency plan and your children's school and/or day care emergency plan.  Have written backup care arrangements in place with the school or day care in the event you are detained in an emergency.

• Post all emergency plans/phone numbers in a prominent place at home or in the office.

• Learn first aid.  Professional medical assistance may not immediately be available.

Develop a Family Emergency Plan

     Emergency planning can help to ensure an effective response to emergencies and disasters.  Have a family meeting to discuss potential emergency situations.  Talk about what each family member should do in different situations.

• Develop your plan based on an assessment of the kinds of emergencies that can occur in your province, territory and community.  Natural events can include winter storms, floods or tornadoes.  Secondary events, such as water-induced landslides and toxic spills can exacerbate a weather-related event and prolong a state of emergency.  While the emergency incidents may vary, the elements of an effective response are often the same.

• Ensure elderly family members, who may not live with you, are included in your emergency plan.

• Conduct a hazard audit of your home.  Review fire safety features such as smoke detectors and how to monitor them.  Check for frayed electrical cords or overloaded circuits.  Don't keep flammable materials near electrical equipment or your furnace. Learn how to safely turn off main water and electrical switches in your home.  Locate the safe areas in your home in case of a tornado (i.e. interior bathrooms, closets, lowest floor level.)

• Select a predetermined meeting place if a fire or other event forces your family out of your home.  Ask someone outside your immediate area to act as a central point of contact for your family members, relatives and friends in an emergency.

• Prepare an Emergency Car Kit. 

  Battery powered radio and extra batteries

  Blanket

  Booster cables

  First Aid kit and manual

  Fire extinguisher (2A-1OBC type)

  Flares or reflectors

  Flashlight and extra batteries

  Food:  non perishable high energy foods such as granola bars, raisins, etc.

  Maps

  Shovel

  Tire repair kit and pump

  Water

• Decide ahead of time on a system of communication.  Pick one out of province and one local friend or relative for family members to call if separated because of a disaster.  It is often easier to call out of province than within the affected area.

• Prepare a list of Important Telephone numbers

• All members of your family should have a means of identification on them at all times:  e.g. clothing labels, wallet card, bracelet with name & address.

• Maintain a list of the family's required medications, giving generic names and prescribed dosages.  List the name and telephone numbers of family doctors.  For those who use pacemakers or other medical equipment, keep the style, serial number and other pertinent information with you at all times.

• Keep family records, such as mortgage documents, medical records, insurance policies, birth certificates, marriage licenses, wills, stock and bond certificates, tax records in one event you must leave the area quickly.  Keep all papers in a waterproof container.

• Keep treasured items such as family photo albums in a place where they can be quickly accessed if you must leave your home in a hurry.

• Take a CPR class.

• Involve all family members in planning for an emergency.

• Consider pets:  consider how you will deal with their survival and care.

• Test your plan.  Chances of survival are improved if you exercise your plan.

Maintain a Supply of Food and Emergency Items

     An emergency could isolate you in your home for several days.

     Try to ensure you have a five-day supply of food and water for each family member.  Rotate foods in your regular pantry supplies and replace stored water every few months.

     Other items you may want to keep stocked in your home for emergency use:

• Special medicines or foods required by members of your family, such as insulin, prescription medications, baby food or food required for special diets.

• Solar, crank or battery-powered radio and flashlight (one per person) in working order and extra batteries for each.

• All-purpose fire extinguisher (rated A-B-C).

• Waterproof matches, or matches in a waterproof container.

• Candles and tin can.

• A five-day supply of food items for each member of the family.  Choose familiar foods that require no refrigeration, cooking or preparation, are compact and lightweight and are liked by those who will be eating them.  If foods must be cooked, include a stove and fuel.

• A five-day supply of water for each member of the family sealed in unbreakable containers (replace stored tap water every few months).  Plan on a minimum of one litre per person per day for drinking purposes only.

• A catalytic heater (usually kerosene or propane).  Follow instructions carefully and ensure there is adequate ventilation to avoid build-up of hazardous fumes when using any kind of fuel.  Install a carbon monoxide sensor (battery-operated).

People With Special Needs

     In case of evacuation, some people may require transportation assistance to Reception Evacuation Centres.  People who require this help may have a physical, neurological or psychological disability or have mobility problems.  

     Persons who are unable ti respond independently to an emergency situation which requires them to evacuate their home should have a pre-arrangement made with family or neighbours or register with their home care program or local seniors organization.

     Home Health Care Patients  Persons who receive home care should discuss emergency plans with their caregiver or home care agency.  Persons should also check with their physician if prior arrangements would be necessary for evacuation to a hospital.

     Electrical Life Support  If a member of the household is bedridden and requires constant medical care or has electrical life support equipment at home, discuss this now with his/her physician.

Emergency Social Service

     Emergency social services may be defined as those social services required in a disaster that would be required for the survival and well-being of persons affected.

     Social Services in your municipality has responsibility for the provision of these services.

     Five social services are essential in an emergency:

• Emergency clothing:  The provision of adequate warm clothing.

• Emergency Lodging:  The provision of safe temporary lodging.

• Emergency Feeding:  The provision of food to those without food or without food preparation facilities.

• Registration and Inquiries:  To reunite families.  To collect information and answer inquiries regarding the safety and whereabouts of missing individuals.

• Psycho-Social Response:  The provision of assistance and counselling to individuals and families in need.

If An Evacuation is Imminent, Consider Adding These Items To Your Emergency Supplies

• Warm waterproof clothing

• Extra food, based on the specific requirements

• Money and credit cards (money machines may not be working)

• Toys to comfort and amuse the children (favorite toy, stuffed animals, cards)

• Reading materials for adults and children

• Pet food

• Sleeping bags, or blankets in a waterproof bag

If You Expect To Be Evacuated From Your Home Or Workplace

     Do not assume an evacuation will last only a few hours.  Plan to evacuate with enough items to keep your family comfortable for at least five days.

     If an emergency is imminent, keep phone lines open for use by emergency workers.  Monitor local radio broadcast for emergency instructions and current information.

• Assemble the food and supplies you can take with you.

• Refer to lists of family medications, records, and irreplaceable items. (See above - Develop a Family Emergency Plan)

• Take all medications, medical supplies and medical equipment with you.

• Keep your car fuelled.

• Turn off main water and electrical switches before leaving home.

• Leave a note on the kitchen table that you had to be evacuated and the name of your out of town contact.

• Follow local government instructions.

• If you are asked to evacuate, do so promptly.

• Travel only on routes recommended by local officials.

     An emergency reception centre may be set up to provide food and shelter to people affected by an emergency

     If you leave the reception centre it is important to advise the centre of your whereabouts.

     If you are going somewhere other than the reception centre and once your location has been determined. it is important to notify family, medical equipment suppliers and other organizations that are involved in your medical care, of your whereabouts.

After The Emergency Or Disaster

     Once the initial emergency is over, there may continue to be dangers that persist.

     Ensure you and your family are safe by following the advice below:

• Don't visit the disaster area.  You may hinder rescue efforts.

• Monitor local media reports for when it is safe to return to your home.  They can also provide other post-incident advice and assistance.

• Drive carefully and watch for debris, dangling or broken wires and damaged bridges and roads.  Report problems to police or fire departments.

• Use extreme caution.  Wait until you are advised by authorities that it is safe to enter buildings that may have been structurally damaged.

• Use only battery-powered lanterns or flashlights to examine your home for damage, which may contain flammable items.  Do not use candles or matches.

• Check for leaking gas pipes in your home

     If you smell gas:

• Immediately open windows and doors.

• Turn off the main gas valve.

• Leave the house immediately.

• Go to another location and notify the gas company, police and fire department.

• Do not re-enter the house unless you are advised by authorities that it is safe to do so.

     If electrical appliances are wet (and you are not wet or standing in water) turn off the main power switch.  

     Then, unplug the wet appliance and let them dry before checking for visible damage.

     If there is no damage, reconnect the appliances and turn on the main power switch.  If the fuses blow when the power is restored, turn off main power switch again and look for short circuits in your home wiring, appliances and equipment.

     If a problem still exists, call your utility company.

     Follow your local health authority's instructions concerning the use of food and water supplies.  Any food affected by lack of refrigeration, chemicals or flood waters should be discarded. (see flooding and preventing food poisoning sections)

     Check to see that sewage lines are intact before flushing toilets.

     Report damaged water, sewage and gas lines to the proper authorities.

     Notify your insurance agent or broker immediately if your property was damaged.

     The emotional impact of disasters on those affected is well known.  Pay attention to your feelings and those of your family members.  Local mental health services are usually able to provide assistance with trauma resulting from a disaster.