SASKATOON — The first week of May is observed as Emergency Preparedness Week, an annual event held across Canada that encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies.
This year’s theme, Be Prepared for Anything emphasizes the importance of planning for the unexpected.
Natural disasters may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face. Residents and business owners are encouraged to join the Saskatoon Fire Department’s Emergency Management Organization in becoming prepared.
"For the last two years our focus has been responding to a global pandemic but our work to prepare and respond to other risks in our community has never stopped," said City of Saskatoon emergency management director Pamela Goulden-McLeod.
"Emergency events can occur at any time. Preparing for an emergency in your home, when you are travelling and in your community is part of taking care of yourself, your family and your community. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s the importance of emergency preparedness and responding as a whole community. By taking a few simple steps and being proactive, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies."
To be prepared, the Saskatoon Fire Department encourages residents to:
- Know the risks – Every community can have different risks. What are the risks for your home, your business, and when you are travelling? Knowing the risks and how to respond is part of being prepared.
- Make a plan – Develop an emergency plan tailored to your family, or your business/workplace. How will you get in touch with each other? Where is the list of emergency phone numbers? Where do you need to go if you need to evacuate your home or business/workplace?
- Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.
- Follow trustworthy sources on social media – Examples include Saskatoon Fire Department, Saskatoon Police Service and Saskatoon Emergency Management.
- Sign up for notifynow messages – When a public safety concern arises, notifynow sends public safety messages to residents of Saskatoon via telephone, email or text message with important information on what to do, where to go and what to expect.
