Global Courant 2023-05-08 04:32:43
A state of emergency was declared in Alberta on Saturday due to the rapid spread of numerous wildfires — a stark reminder as Emergency Preparedness Week begins that it’s increasingly important to know what to do in the event of a natural disaster in your area.
Emergency Preparedness Week is a national awareness campaign that has taken place the first full week of May every year since the mid-1990s and aims to help Canadians think of ways to respond in an emergency.
“In recent years, we have witnessed historic flooding, wildfires, winter storms and hurricanes,” Bill Blair, Secretary of Emergency Preparedness, said in a statement on Sunday.
“Over the past week, floods and wildfires have ravaged communities across Canada. As climate change causes these events to become more frequent and severe, the Government of Canada will be there to support response and recovery efforts and build more resilient communities.”
He added that he encourages all Canadians to familiarize themselves with the necessary steps to take in the event of an emergency, such as “making your own emergency kit, creating a family emergency plan, or getting better informed about the risks and dangers in that case.” exist in your environment.”
Over the past few years, Canada has experienced an increase in floods, wildfires, storms and hurricanes, many of them caused by climate change, forcing Canadians to face unprecedented disruptions in their lives.
In 2021, a tornado devastated Barrie, Ontario, damaging 110 homes. Last fall, Post-Tropical Storm Fiona ravaged Atlantic Canada, killing two people, washing away several homes and powering thousands of people.
HOW TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY KIT
What can Canadians do to be prepared as extreme weather is expected to become more common due to climate change?
One of the most important actions experts recommend is creating an emergency kit: a kit full of basic supplies to help your family survive an emergency, even if the power goes out for an extended period of time or if your family has to evacuate abruptly. or your family may be trapped and cut off from the authorities.
Advise officials that this emergency kit be something that is easy to carry, such as a duffel bag, and stored somewhere where all family members can easily access it.
An emergency kit should contain:
-a flashlight
– a wind-up radio
-extra batteries
-First aid kit
– any specialized supplies for specific members of the family, such as disability-related equipment, prescription medications, or foods specific to a person’s age or allergies.
-extra keys for your house and car
cash, including change for a phone booth
– your family’s emergency plan
It should also include some basic food and water needs, according to government officials, including two liters of water per person per day if possible.
It should contain shelf-stable or shelf-stable foods such as canned goods or individually wrapped granola bars and dried foods. If you pack canned goods, make sure you include a can opener. Ready-to-eat baby food and pet food is the best choice instead of food that needs to be prepared before serving.
If you can prepare for an emergency — such as preparations for a post-tropical storm or hurricane — officials recommend make sure your refrigerator and freezer are set at or below 4°C and -18°C respectively to keep them cooler for longer in the event of a power failure.
You should prepare a cooler and ice in advance in case you need to keep refrigerated foods cold for more than four hours.
