Emergency Preparedness Week
What is Emergency Preparedness Week?
Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week is an annual event that takes place across the country during the first full week of May. EP Week raises awareness about how to prepare for an emergency and how to keep your family safe in a crisis. It also helps to create safer communities by encouraging you to remember those who may be vulnerable or unable to support themselves during an emergency.
There are four simple steps to help plan for emergencies:
- Know the hazards/risks in your area;
- Make a plan to protect your family in the event of emergency;
- Get an emergency kit so you and your family are self-sufficient for at least 72 hours; and
- Know what to do after an emergency occurs.
Get involved in Emergency Preparedness Week
There are many ways to get involved both during and after emergency preparedness week. EP Week is a good time to:
- Book a presentation for your workplace or community group
- Talk to your family and prepare a family emergency plan
- Build an emergency kit for your home, office and car
- Start work or volunteer meetings by reminding participants about emergency procedures
- Stage an emergency exercise and practice your plan
- Sign up or update your information on Sudbury Alerts
Resources
For all Audiences
- How to prepare for an emergency
- How to prepare your pet for emergencies
- Emergency preparedness for individuals living in high-rise buildings
- Heat-related illness
- How to prepare for a power outage
- Emergency preparedness for severe weather
- Emergency preparedness for people with disabilities
- Emergency preparedness for Seniors
For Students/Children
- Children’s placemat: A fun, kid-friendly placemat with activities to introduce emergency preparedness.
- Be Prepared! Children’s activity booklet: A booklet from Public Safety Canada that teaches children how to stary safe during emergencies through activities.
- Sesame Workshop: A collection of videos, stories, and activities to help children understand emergencies with Sesame Street characters.
For Educators and Parents
- The Canadian Red Cross has a free Expect the Unexpected program with different modules for different ages that is designed to help youth and their families deal with the impact of natural disasters and adopt disaster preparedness behaviour.
- Emergency Management Ontario encourages teachers and parents to email EMOPubEd@ontario.ca for resources to help children learn more about different types of emergencies and how to prepare.