Open Magazine - Index

Open Magazine - magazine - Index

Cover Story
are you
prepared
for an
emergency?
While recently adding some items to my
family’s home emergency preparedness kit, I
began to wonder how prepared others are. If
disaster were to strike in my community, would
my family, friends and neighbours be ready?
According to Public Safety Canada, only 28 per cent of
Canadians have sought information about what to do in the
event of an emergency, 33 per cent have created a family
emergency plan, and 32 per cent have created a family
emergency kit. (PSEPC/Ekos Research Associates: Opinions on
Disaster Preparedness, October 2006)
I decided to put these statistics to the test. I asked my
friend Karen if she felt prepared for an emergency. I was
surprised by her response, “Disasters don’t really happen
here so I’m not too worried about it—really, what’s the worst
thing that could happen in Canada?” As I continued to query
my circle of contacts, it became apparent that many had given
some thought to family preparedness but few had acted on it.
Incredibly, I discovered that most people were unprepared.
It is true that we are fortunate to live in a country where
we experience few large-scale disasters. However, according to
the Canadian Red Cross, volunteer teams have witnessed an
increasing need for disaster response services. “I think people
need to redefine the term disaster in their own minds,” says
John Saunders, Director of Disaster Management for the
14 Open Magazine Summer 2008
by Tanya Elliott
Canadian Red Cross in Ontario. “Emergencies do happen in
Canada, and the Red Cross responds to situations ranging from
single house fires to forest fires, flooding and extreme weather,
and regardless of the scale, these events are devastating to
those affected.”
According to the Red Cross, just being aware of the risks
and emergency plans in your area is the first important step
in preparing yourself and your family. Emergency warning
systems and evacuation routes vary across communities and
there is tremendous peace of mind to be gained by knowing
what is in place in your own area.
“There are three key steps for
effective preparedness: know your risks,
make a plan, prepare a kit,” says Saunders.
Know Your Risks
For information on how to prepare for hazards in your
community, contact your provincial/territorial government’s
Emergency Management Office. When you contact them,
be prepared to take notes. Ask what types of natural and
technological disasters are most likely to happen and
request information on how to prepare for each of these.
Learn about your community’s warning signals—what they
sound like and what you should do when you hear them.
Make A Plan
Learn about your community authorities, evacuation
routes and emergency plans. In virtually every emergency
situation, you will need to know who to call and what you
might be asked to do. Find out where emergency shelters are
located. If needed, find out how to help elderly or disabled
persons. Identify the closest emergency services offices—fire,
police, ambulance, gas and electrical utilities, public works—
and post their contact information near your telephone.
Check on school and daycare emergency plans and other
places where your family spends time. You may be separated