It's Emergency Preparedness Week! To celebrate, we are profiling our Halton Emergency Management staff, who plan for and respond to community emergencies. You might not realize it, but the Region has a specific role in emergency management, working with partners to ensure you get the support you need during an emergency.
Let’s meet the team behind the scenes with Alex, one of our Emergency Management Coordinators at Halton Region.
When an Emergency Strikes, Halton is Ready to Respond (YouTube video link)
Are you ready?
Now that you have learned about our role in responding to emergencies, it is time to focus on steps you can take to ensure you are prepared. In a large-scale emergency, every person in your household needs food, water, and essential supplies that will last 72 hours. Why 72 hours? Emergency responders need to respond to people with the most critical needs first.
You should always have a plan and an emergency kit to get you and your family through the first 72 hours of an emergency. You need to plan to ensure you have what you need if you don’t have power for 72 hours or are displaced from your home. There are three key things to remember:
Know the risks – what could happen where you live? Think about severe weather, hazardous spills, disease outbreaks, flooding, or road emergencies. What would you do?
Make a plan – You should have a plan for your household and your pets. If you have older family members with disabilities, you need to have a plan in place for them. For example, if they live on their own and are hearing impaired, have mobility issues, or vision impairment, how will they be cared for during an emergency? There are many scenarios to consider. Planning is essential.
Get a kit/make a kit – An emergency kit with 72 hours of supplies for every household member (including pets) is your lifeline during an emergency. You need food, water, medical supplies, medications, identification, flashlights, etc. It is easy to make a kit. Check out our Emergency Preparedness page for a comprehensive list of items to include in your kit. And just like emergency plans, there are different kits for different needs.
You need to be ready for anything. Our Emergency Preparedness Guide (PDF file) provides helpful checklists and tips on preparing for emergencies.
In an emergency, every second counts. Be prepared. Be safe.
Resources
- Visit our Emergency Preparedness section on halton.ca for information on what to do before, during, and after an emergency.
- Download a copy of our Emergency Preparedness Guide (PDF file).
- For Regional emergencies, follow @regionofhalton on social channels, visit halton.ca, email accesshalton@halton.ca or call 311 for updates.