Are You Prepared For An Emergency?

No one likes to think about emergencies and natural disasters: they’re stressful and incredibly unsettling. Having a plan for an emergency can help alleviate some of that stress when it happens and, with all of the online resources available, making a plan has never been easier or faster. Here are some things to consider when preparing for an emergency, as well as a few of our favourite, free resources you can use to make your own emergency response plan.

Know Your Risks

Blackouts, flash floods, forest fires, and tornados are just some of the threats that affect us here in Alberta, and while these incidents don’t happen frequently (thank goodness!), they’re disruptive and can catch you off guard. It’s important to know what you’re likely to encounter to avoid panicking should an emergency occur.

Fortunately, there are many interactive resources that you can use to learn about the risks, and our top recommendation is Get Prepared, an online portal that includes access to the Canadian Disaster Database. Once you’re in the Database, you can search by the area or province you live in for past risks over a given time period. It’s a great way to get informed about common threats so you can prepare for what may happen in your area.

Plan, Plan, Plan

Emergency situations can happen at any time: you may be out with friends, at work while your kids are at school, or away from the city on a day trip. Having a plan can take the stress out of worrying about how you’ll get to safety, meet up with loved ones, and take care of yourself and your family until first responders arrive.

The City of Calgary has an awesome and practical how-to guide on creating an emergency action plan. This website includes a fillable form to help you create your own emergency action plan quickly, as well as a home inventory checklist to keep track of what you own in case of a property loss. These forms are useful when making a claim with your insurance, so you will definitely want to keep this up to date as you make new purchases.

Prepare a 72-Hour Emergency Kit

In the case of an emergency or natural disaster, it can take up to 72 hours for first responders to reach you, so it’s important to have supplies that will last you at least 72-hours. For most of us, what you need will already be in your home, and the key will be knowing where everything is in order to access them quickly. Try to keep your 72-hour emergency kit in an easy to access and memorable location.

If you need ideas for what to keep in a 72-Hour Emergency Kit, the City of Calgary and the Government of Canada have great checklists to help you build your own kit. If you have an emergency kit prepared, it’s a good idea to go through these lists to see if there’s anything you want to add to it.

Additional Resources

For more information about getting prepared, be sure to check out:

• Government of Canada: Get Prepared
• Government of Alberta: Alberta Emergency Management Agency
• City of Calgary: Getting prepared for emergencies