Mitigation Symposium - Barrie Brand

PERSONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS

Why everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected!  

2013

Alberta Emergency Management Agency

DO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED?

• Slave Lake

• High River

• Hub Oil Explosion

• 2010 Medicine Hat / Cypress Flooding

• 2013 Alberta Flooding

• But many are smaller events!

• Edmonton Rutherford Condo Fire – 25 people out for weeks

WHY DON’T WE PREPARE?

• How many of you have a 72 hour kit right now?

• “It takes too much time”

• “It won’t happen to me”

• “It won’t be that bad”

• “If it is that bad, there’s nothing you can do”

• “The government will help”

• “It costs too much”

FOUR PARTS

• Know the Risks

• Create a Plan for Your Family / Practice the Plan

• Have a 72 Hour Kit

• Be Informed

GET INFORMED!

2013 Southern Alberta Flooding

100,000 Albertans learn the importance of personal preparedness

WHAT ARE THE RISKS?

• Fire

• Floods

• Tornadoes

• Power Outages

• Dangerous Goods

• Pipeline Breaks

• Winds

• Landslides

• Water Quality

• Train Derailments

• Snow Storms

EACH COMMUNITY WILL BE DIFFERENT!

HOW WILL YOU BE ALERTED?

• Knock on the door

• Media

• Community (Twitter, Sirens, reverse 911)

• Alberta Emergency Alert

• View at www.albertaemergencyalert.ca

• Sign up with Twitter or Facebook (on the website)

PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS

HAVE A KIT!

2011 Slave Lake Wildfires

10,000+ Albertans learn the importance of personal preparedness

HAVE A PLAN

• Where will you go? (Close and further)

• How will you reunite? (Phone Numbers)

• Are there evacuation routes?

• What if your normal exit road is blocked?

• What about other plans?

PRACTICE THE PLAN

• Reminds you of the plan

• Ensures it works

• Helps identify changes (e.g. new phone number, brother has moved)

PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS

HAVE A KIT!

2010 Airdrie Train Derailment

47,000+ Albertans might have needed evacuation

IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM IN YOUR KIT, WHAT SHOULD IT BE?

• Water!

• $5 - $10 for a jug

• Can you run with a jug?

• Backpack with small bottles

WHAT ELSE?

• Flashlight

• Radio to hear emergency information/alerts

• Cash (small bills)

• Toilet Paper

• Toiletries

• Food? You can go for days without it!

• Cell phone charger

• Flash Drive with important papers/copies

ADD A CHECKLIST

• If you only have 5 minutes to evacuate, what do you bring?

• Pictures / computer

• Heirlooms and mementos

• Medications / prescription

• Jewelry and valuables

• Keys/wallet/purse/glasses (easy to forget!)

• Appropriate clothing for the weather

• STAPLE TO YOUR BACKPACK!

CLOTHES AND BLANKETS?

• Why buy stuff you will never use?

• Take old blankets and favourite sweaters and put in a bag.

• Commercial kits often have trinkets like a whistle, glow-stick and compass.

• Consider your camping gear for cooking

THOSE DEPENDANT ON YOU

• Children

• Pets

• Elderly

• Dependent adults

• Temporary situations – crutches, pregnancy, visitors

• A separate bag and/or list may be required

BE INFORMED

• Listen to the radio, watch media reports

• Monitor Twitter, Facebook, municipal

websites

• Sign up for Alberta Emergency Alert

• Talk to municipal officials

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“I NEVER EXPECTED IT TO HAPPEN TO ME!”

• Reporter in Australia with the Brisbaine Floods

• Had the 72 hour kit and got to the evacuation centre.

• Diapers, baby formula, toys, blankets in a well-prepared kit.

HER KIDS WERE IN COLLEGE!

PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS

2013 Edmonton Condo Fire

200 evacuated, 25 out for days/weeks

THIS IS FOR YOUR FAMILY

• Does it matter if it is one house or a thousand?

• Being singed is more likely than being directly impacted.

• Studies have shown, if you don’t get the water today, you won’t do it at all.

FOUR PARTS

• Know the Risks

• Have a 72 Hour Kit

• Create a Plan for Your Family / Practice the Plan

• Be Informed

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Thank you!

http://www.aema.alberta.ca/personal_emergency_preparedness.cfm