Adam Prudhomme
Editor
Natural disasters can be unpredictable-but that doesn’t mean Canadians can’t be prepared for whenever they might strike. Sunday marked the start of Emergency Preparedness Week and the Town of Greater Napanee is reminding residents now is the time to be ready for the unexpected. This year’s theme is ‘be prepared, know your risks.’
“We want families to make a plan, an emergency communication plan, an evacuation plan, emergency numbers, family doctors, poison health, relatives, friends, insurance companies,” said Erin Tyers, community emergency management coordinator with Greater Napanee Emergency Services. “The emergency survival kit is important to have, that 72 hour kit. The ability to be self sufficient for up to three days is important when we’re talking about the summer time with power outages, being able to be at home and sustain yourself for a couple of days, having some food on hand, making sure you have a couple of days of medication.”
Being prepared is broken down into three major points: know the risks, make a plan, get an emergency kit.
A kit should include non-perishable food, a can opener, bottled water (four litres per person, per day, plus back up water), medication, clothing, a crank radio, batteries, first-aid kit and cash. Much like smoke alarms, it’s recommended these kits be checked twice a year to ensure the contents are still good. A simple way to remember is to examine kits every time the clocks go forward or back for daylight savings.
Tyers also recommends residents sign up for the town’s Voyent Alert service, a free multi-purpose communication service that will notify residents, businesses and visitors during events such as fire or weather events. Subscribers have the option of email, text message or voice alert by registering at register.voyent-alert.com or mobile alerts by downloading Voyent Alert! from Apple or Google app stores.
For more information on how to be ready for an emergency, visit www.GetPrepared.ca or contact Greater Napanee Emergency Services at 613-354-3351.