“Be Prepared. Know Your Risk” is this year’s Emergency Preparedness Week’s theme. It encourages City of Lethbridge residents to understand the risks in their area and learn what actions they can take to protect themselves and their families.
Emergencies can range from natural or weather-related disasters like fires, tornadoes and heat waves to long-term power outages or large-scale accidents such as chemical spills or industrial explosions.
Emergency Preparedness Week includes everybody, says Emergency Planning Administrator Jamie Anderson. “If you have pets, dependents or loved ones you care for, those are risk factors you need to take into consideration while you’re planning and making emergency plans.”
One of the consistent messages Canadians will hear through the week nationally is to have a 72-hour emergency kit prepared, notes Anderson. “Knowing your specific risk factors and knowing what would be applicable to your family as you’re looking to respond to an emergency or disaster and making a plan that accommodates those things.”
“If you have pets, do you have pet food and the supplies you would need for them? If you have medications or health considerations, are you prepared if you had to leave? Photocopies of documentation that is critical. Things like your passport or any insurance documentation you might have, so you’re ready to go and have all of those. Key contacts are another one. Having those key contacts printed off or written down somewhere,” says Anderson.
Hazard season typically begins at the end of March, goes through the summer and into the winter months, says Anderson. “With changing global climates and changing risk factors, different hazards are year-round. It’s always good to take stock of what your needs are and to be prepared.”
According to Anderson, the City is also launching social services volunteer opportunities. “In a disaster or evacuation, we provide supports to people who are evacuated from their residences.”
“If people are looking to get involved in the emergency response effort our emergency social services team is a great place to do that,” adds Anderson.
Chief Fire Marshall Troy Hicks says a 72-hour emergency kit for residents is also recommended in any fire situation. “They could be displaced. Having those kits is an amazing thing.”
When a fire happens and everyone is safe and out of the home, Hicks explains, that is when some of the real work begins. “People are contacting their insurance company or they’re contacting loved ones. They’re getting a hold of anyone to get things back to normal. There are fire safes people can purchase and you can have them in your homes. They do work well.”
Hicks says Lethbridge is an amazing community and emergency services experiences community spirit at fire scenes all the time.
“We will have a structure fire and when the fire department shows up there’s already neighbours helping get people out of their homes and just getting them settled, making sure they have a warm place to go in and something to eat and drink. We’ve been on big fire scenes and we’ve had neighbours come outside with cases of water for our firefighters,” says Hicks.
It is also imperative emergency services are prepared for any emergency.
“Training is an everyday thing.” says Hicks. “It never ends. We are always training and we are always preparing. And we do need to sit down and think about what could happen.”
Throughout Emergency Preparedness Week, City staff will be available at various locations to engage with residents. Outreach events will highlight the importance of emergency preparedness, providing an opportunity to enter a prize draw to win a 72-hour emergency kit. The outreach will also encourage residents to sign up for Alberta Emergency Alerts and to consider joining the City’s Emergency Social Services volunteer team.
Staff will be on location Wednesday at LSCO, Friday at the Cavendish Farms Centre Arena and the Cor Van Raay YMCA and Saturday at the Downtown Public Library.