FLOOD, DISEASE EMERGENCY PLANNING URGED

Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — After last spring’s severe flooding— and in light of a new Coronavirus scare in Sudbury —officials here are urging residents to plan for any type of emergency including:

  • Severe weather – floods, extreme temperatures, wind storms, tornadoes, snow and icestorms;
  • Accidents – hazardous material spills, explosions, water contamination, train derailments;
  • Mass power failures; and/or
  • Disease outbreaks.

Families may be forced to evacuate and all members of the family may not be together.

They offer tips from Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) on what should be included in an emergency plan that can be modified and augmented for personal use.

A Family Communications Plan:

During an emergency, it may be easier to reach someone using text messaging or social media or to make a long-distance call than to call someone locally (due to network damage or a jammed system).

Discuss with your family which way(s) you will try to get in touch with each other. Identify one or two out-of-town contacts you and your loved ones can call or text message to connect and share information. Be sure they live far enough away so they will not likely be affected by the same emergency.

Make sure everyone in your family, as well as your two key contacts, knows how to use text messaging. During emergencies, these messages may often get through even when phone calls may not.

Always keep your communication devices fully charged.

Evacuation Plan:

In case you are asked to evacuate your home, or even your area, select two safe locations you could go to. One should be nearby, such as a local library or community centre. The other one should be farther away, outside your neighbourhood, in case the emergency affects a large area.

  • Safe meeting place 1 (near home): • Safe meeting place 2 (outside my neighbourhood).

You should also plan how you would travel to a safe location if evacuation was advised.

If you have pets, think of someone who can take your pet(s) if you have to leave your home. Often, only service animals are allowed at reception centres.

Review of Safety in Your Home:

A review of safety in your home involves a thorough assessment of potential hazards in and around your home. Potential hazards include anything that could cause personal injury, lead to a fire or flooding in your home, or jeopardize your safety by making it easy for an intruder to enter your home.

Sometimes called a home safety audit, a safety evaluation is a great way to discover what concrete steps you need to take so that your home is as safe as possible for everyone in your family, in any situation that arises. You can undertake a home safety audit on your own by identifying common household hazards and checking on them regularly.

With so many aspects of home safety to consider, you may wish to break up your home safety evaluation based on a specific topic, like fire safety or home security. That way you can tackle similar tasks all at once to avoid feeling overwhelmed. You could also break up the assessment by room or based on specific needs.

For example, you could assess your house or apartment before a new mom and baby come home from the hospital, or in preparation of an older relative moving in with you. From there, you can evaluate your family’s home safety plan in those specific areas.

Evacuation Route:

Make sure everyone in your family knows how to safely exit your home—by a main exit and an alternate one. Be sure to consider your living situation.

For instance, if you live in a high-rise and have special needs, talk to your building manager or neighbours to make special arrangements, if necessary.

Emergency Numbers:

Keep a list of emergency numbers at the ready and make sure all members of your family know where they are.

Teach children when and how to dial 9-1-1 and other key numbers they may need to call.

Here are some numbers you should consider having on this list:

  • 9-1-1
  • Police
  • Fire
  • Family Doctor
  • Telehealth
  • Poison control
  • Family & friends who can lend support in a crisis
  • Insurance contact
  • Utility companies

72-Hour Kit:

Once you have your plan in place, you can begin constructing your 72 Hour Kit that you can take with you.

Below are some suggestions from EMO on items that should be included in a 72-Hour Kit, as well as some tips on how to prepare and store it.

Essentials:

  • Food (non-perishable and easy-toprepare items, enough for 3 days) and a manual can opener • Bottled water (4 litres per person for each day)
  • Medication(s) • Flashlight • Radio (crank or battery-run)
  • Extra batteries • First-aid kit
  • Candles and matches/lighter
  • Hand sanitizer or moist towelettes • Important papers (identification, contact lists, copies of prescriptions, etc.)
  • Extra car keys and cash • Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
  • Zip-lock bag (to keep things dry)
  • Garbage bags Special Considerations • Items for babies and small children— diapers, formula, bottles, baby food, comfort items
  • Prescription medication
  • Medical supplies and equipment
  • Pet food and supplies
  • Any other items specific to your family’s needs Extra Supplies for Evacuation • Clothes, shoes
  • Sleeping bags or blankets • Personal items (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, comb, other toiletries) • Playing cards, travel games, other activities for children
  • Pack the contents of your kit in an easy-to-carry bag(s) or a case on wheels.
  • Store your kit in a place that is easy to reach, and ensure that everyone in your family knows where it is.
  • Your kit does not have to be built overnight. Spread your shopping over a few weeks. Purchase a few items every time you go to the store.
  • Your water supply is meant to cover what you would drink as well as what you might need for food preparation, hygiene and dishwashing.
  • Check and refresh your kit twice a year—when the clocks shift to/from daylight savings time is a good time. Check all expiry dates and replace food and water with a fresh supply. Check batteries and replace as needed. • Keep your cell phone or mobile device fully charged.

A Few More Tips:

Having a plan in place, as well as a 72-Hour Kit, are two highly positive steps to making your home and family more resilient in the face of an emergency.

Here are a few more things to keep in mind:

  • Monitor local weather and follow any instructions given by trusted weather sources, such as travel bulletins.
  • Sign up for notifications from the Town of Bracebridge, https://www.bracebridge.ca/subscribe to receive up to date information on road closures, emergency alerts and other pertinent information. Additional Information For more information about emergency preparedness in the Town of Bracebridge and the District of Muskoka, visit the Emergency Management Ontario web site at:
  • http://www.emergencymanagementontario.ca

Visit these webpages for more information on preparing for emergencies or for general information:

  • MuskokaTODAY.com
  • Environment Canada
  • Weather Network
  • Public Safety Canada
  • Get Prepared
  • Emergency Management Ontario
  • MTO Traveller’s Information Other Helpful Links
  • Town of Bracebridge Website
  • Bracebridge Fire Department
  • Emergency Services and Preparedness
  • Preparing for the Spring Thaw – Flooding/High Water Information Sheet • Town of Bracebridge (Twitter)
  • Bracebridge Fire Department (Twitter)
  • Town of Bracebridge (Facebook)

For further information in Bracebridge, contact Jared Cayley, Deputy Fire Chief/Community Emergency Management coordinator (705) 645-8258 ext. 401. Or email [email protected]

Being prepared for an emergency, like last spring’s floods, requires planning to stock up on food and survival supplies.