Haligonians urged to be ’emergency ready’ as Emergency Preparedness Week begins
Posted May 6, 2018 09:02:00 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As Emergency Preparedness Week begins Sunday, officials say every family should have a plan.
Dan Bedell with the Canadian Red Cross said a grab-and-go kit is essential.
“A scenario like we're seeing in New Brunswick with an evacuation, people often forget key things they should have taken with them and maybe instead bring things they don't need.”
He said every situation is different and plans need to be tailored to the circumstances of each family.
“If there's small children, infants, elderly people, people who may have mobility issues or other disability issues, people who have medications or other special needs, pets, all of those are factors in what you'd do,” he explained.
“Members of the home may not be together when an emergency occurs, added Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency's emergency management division. “Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.”
They said every Haligonian should be prepared to be self-sufficient in their home for 72 hours in situations where it's either not safe to evacuate or you aren't able to leave.
The HRFE emergency management web page has more information on how to be prepared, and the Canadian Red Cross “Be Ready” app has useful information for a range of disasters and emergencies.
And as a part of Emergency Preparedness Week, there will be a test of Canada's new public emergency alert system.
Test alerts already go out several times a year through TV and radio, but for the first time cell phones will be included.
“The use of cell phones to communicate an emergency allows officials to reach people wherever they are and target a specific area where there is imminent danger,” said Emergency Management Office minister Derek Mombourquette in a news release.
A test alert will be sent out Wednesday at 1:55 p.m.
“If a cell phone is switched off or on silent mode, there will be no sound but a message will be displayed and the phone may vibrate if it is in silent mode,” said EMO.
