Safeguard your community during Emergency Preparedness Week

Is your family prepared?

Recent disasters around the world, including in Canada, have shown us how important it is for a community to be prepared for any kind of emergency. Think about the recent storm crisis Hurricane Sandy, for example, when communities and neighbourhoods came together to help and support each other. The more you're prepared as an individual, the more you might be able to help others when disaster strikes.

The goal of Emergency Preparedness Week, which runs from May 5 to 11 this year, is to encourage Canadians to get involved in emergency preparedness. Here's a guide to doing one thing every day to mark the week and make you and your community safer:


Day 1: Visit www.GetPrepared.ca. This federal government website includes guides, checklists, videos and more.

Day 2: Sign up for Safety Tips. Public Safety Canada sends out monthly safety tips about emergency preparedness. These come right to your Inbox if you subscribe, or you can read them on the website.

Day 3: Check out your emergency supplies. Do you have a flashlight? Extra batteries? If yes, you are well on your way to stocking a basic family emergency kit. On the GetPrepared site, take a look at the emergency kit list to see if you should pick up a few more supplies or a container to put them in. The kit should be kept in one place in your home.

Day 4: Talk to your family about emergencies. Your kids might be wondering what you're up to as you put emergency supplies together. That's a good time to take a few minutes and involve them in your planning. Talk to children about different kinds of emergencies and get the conversation going.

Day 5: Check out the Canadian Disaster Database to find out what disasters have happened in your region in the past? Knowing what can happen is a good first step to preparedness. This database is also on the website.

Day 6: Make a Plan. It takes only a few minutes, but a plan brings peace of mind. What would you do if there's an emergency in your neighbourhood and your family isn't together? Will the kids be picked up? Where will you meet if your cell phones don't work? You can complete a plan on the GetPrepared site.

Day 7: Follow @Get_Prepared on Twitter to stay connected throughout the year, and share the videos with your family and friends.

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