Emergency Management

Being better prepared is all about having a plan and it only takes about 20 minutes to complete.  Making sure everyone in your family knows what to do in an emergency is the first step. Consider the following questions;

• What are your two escape routes from your house and your neighborhood? Do you practice them at least once a year?
• Where will you meet if the family gets separated?
• Who can pick up the kids?
• Do you have readily available Close-by and out-of-town alternate contact information of names, telephone numbers and addresses?
• What will you do with your pets?

It's easy, fast and free to make a plan online for printing.

Building a 72 hour Emergency Kit is easy and you may be surprised how at how much you already have at home.  Your kit should contain essential items for you, your family and your pets to survive for a minimum of three days or 72 hours at home.  Keep it in an easy-to-reach, accessible place. Remember you may need to stay in place with your 72 hour kit or possibly leave immediately with a grab-and-go bag.

Essentials:

• Three day supply of drinking water (4 liters per person per day) and non-perishable food for your household, including pets
• Manual can-opener 
• Battery powered or crank radio and flashlight with extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Prescriptions and special medical supplies for family
• Candles and matches/lighter
• Hand sanitizer or moist towelettes
• Important personal papers, including contact information for you 
• Extra car and house keys, smaller bills of cash
• Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
• Copy of your emergency plan and contact information

Make sure your medications are written down and stored all together in an easily accessible location.

How to build a:

• Emergency kit for your vehicle
• Emergency kit for your pets

There is no one-size-fits-all emergency preparedness plan. Those living with a physical, visual, auditory and/or other non-visible disability, should customize their emergency plan to suit their needs.  Consider what additional items you may need to add to your emergency survival kit or family emergency plan. 

Remember...

• Select a network of individuals at home and at work that will be able to assist you during an emergency.
• Prepare a list of medications, specifying the reason for each medicine that you are taking. Include the generic name, dosage, frequency and the contact information of the prescribing physician.
• Provide a copy of your medication list to your designated network and keep a copy in your emergency survival kit. You will also want to prepare a list of food and/or drug allergies.
• Provide written instructions for your network on how best to assist you and your service animal (if applicable) during an emergency.
• Label all special needs equipment and attach laminated instruction cards.
• Carry a personal alarm that emits a loud noise to draw attention to your whereabouts.
• If you rely on any life sustaining equipment/apparatus, develop an emergency backup plan that will ensure the equipment/apparatus works in the event of a power outage. 

Be sure to practice your emergency plan with your support network at least twice a year.  

Insurance can help you replace what’s lost, and help cover your expenses if you are forced to leave your home during an emergency. Discuss your needs with an insurance representative.

As a homeowner or tenant, you are legally responsible for any damage you cause to any part of your building and for unintentional harm caused to others who live in or visit the property.

For example:

• If your known faulty toaster oven starts a fire that damages not only your apartment, but the entire complex, you may have to pay for the damage to your unit and the rest of the complex.
• If someone slips and falls in your rental condo, you may be held financially responsible for the cost of the injured person’s damages.
• If your clothing, furniture or electronics are destroyed by fire or water damage, replacement costs add up.

For more information, visit the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

During an emergency, you should stay tuned to local news channels. Be sure to have a portable, battery-operated or crank radio in your 72 hour kit in case of power outages.

Information can also be found on the Northern Bruce Peninsula Fire and Emergency Services Facebook and Twitter pages. 

Local Radio Stations:

• 91.9 The Bruce in the North
• 93.7 Country 93
• 101.7 The One
• 104.3 The Penn
• 106.5 The Mix

If you are instructed to "shelter-in-place" this means you must remain inside your home or location and protect yourself there. 

Authorities will not ask you to leave your home unless they have reason to believe you are in danger.  

Your pets and evacuations