As we all know, anything catastrophic can happen anytime and anywhere. And time and chance happen to everyone.
Thus, it would be prudent to be prepared for emergency situations.
Emergency Preparedness Week as a joint municipal, federal and provincial effort has the following two-pronged approach:
1. Make you more aware of the importance of individual preparedness since only forty per cent of Ontarians have an emergency survival kit but only 17 per cent have a family emergency plan.
- The need for you to prepare yourself and your family to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of an emergency such as a power outage or severe weather event.
- The City of Toronto will be holding a “Survivor Challenge” – an in-school, overnight event on May 5 and 6 for students at R. H. King Academy. The students taking part will participate in a mock disaster exercise and engage in emergency preparedness activities.
- You are encouraged to test your knowledge of emergency preparedness by visiting www.ontario.ca/beprepared and taking the Emergency Preparedness Challenge.
- Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act establishes the province’s legal basis and framework for managing emergencies in Ontario.
2. Advise you on ways to reduce risks and negative consequences when emergencies occur.
- Toronto’s OEM’s (Office of Emergency Management’s) website – toronto.ca/oem (http://www.toronto.ca/oem) – provides tips about being prepared for an emergency, including how residents can create a household emergency preparedness kit.
- The Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs is available in seven languages and in Braille in both English and French.
It may be a good idea that the 72-hour survival kits are available in your homes, workplaces and cars in order to significantly increase the chances of survival for both you and your family.
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
News Release
April 29, 2011
City encouraging residents to learn more preparing for an emergency
An emergency can happen any time and any place. During Emergency Preparedness Week from May 1 to 7, the City of Toronto’s Office of Emergency Management is encouraging all residents to learn more about becoming emergency-ready.
“Each of us has a role to play in becoming prepared to deal with an emergency situation,” said Loretta Chandler, Director of the Office of Emergency Management. “A flood, power outage or other type of emergency can happen when you least expect it. It’s important that all residents in the city develop an emergency plan and have a three-day emergency survival kit to be ready for any emergency.”
Emergency Preparedness Week is a joint municipal, federal and provincial effort. Its goal is to make the public more aware of the importance of individual preparedness and to advise people on ways to reduce risks and negative consequences when emergencies occur.
The Office of Emergency Management’s website – toronto.ca/oem (http://www.toronto.ca/oem) – provides tips about being prepared for an emergency, including how residents can create a household emergency preparedness kit.
As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, the City will be holding a “Survivor Challenge” – an in-school, overnight event on May 5 and 6 for students at R. H. King Academy. The students taking part will participate in a mock disaster exercise and engage in emergency preparedness activities.
Toronto is Canada’s largest city and sixth largest government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.6 million people. Toronto’s government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence, creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost of government and building a transportation city. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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CONTACT
Joe Kim
Minister’s Office
416-325-8282
Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
ontario.ca/safety
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