City encouraging residents to ‘Prepare Together’ for EP Week 2026

May 1, 2026 - The City's Emergency Management team is highlighting that when it comes to home emergency preparedness it should be a team approach.

Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week takes place May 3 to 9 this year, with a theme of 'Prepared Together.' With that in mind, the City is encouraging residents to come together as a family to plan, prepare and build knowledge as a family.

"Safety starts with being prepared and having a plan, and that can't be just one person's responsibility in the home. This week engage friends, family and neighbors, include them in your planning and preparations, so when an emergency strikes, all your loved ones are ready," said Sarnia Community Emergency Management Coordinator James Kostuk.

Families, friends and households can enhance their preparedness by:

• Preparing and reviewing an emergency plan together, ensuring everyone knows escape routes, meeting places, and important contact information
• Stocking an emergency kit together, with enough food and water for the whole family (including pets), in addition to individual identification, personal prescriptions, and other important emergency kit items
• Reviewing the specific risks, responses, and mitigation strategies for a broad range of emergency hazards such as floods, chemical spills, fires and infrastructure disruptions

Residents can find more information on hazards; home, pet and vehicle emergency kits; and emergency planning alongside the City's Home Emergency Preparedness Guide at www.sarnia.ca/EmergencyPrep

As part of EP Week, the City and Sarnia Fire Rescue Services will continue the tradition of participating in EP Day at Lambton College. The free annual event hosted by BASES is an interactive, community-centered event, focused on public safety and preparedness. Families and individuals are invited to participate in educational activities, engage with emergency responders, and learn valuable skills to handle real-life emergencies.

EP Day 2026 takes place at Lambton College on Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

"We're excited to see EP Day continue to grow and to bring the community together again this year with even more exhibitors. It's a meaningful opportunity for local families to connect, ask questions, and have fun while learning how to be better prepared," said BASES Senior Communications Advisor Tracy Krull.

Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is a national event that educates communities across the province about actions people can take to prepare for emergency situations. This annual event has taken place for over 25 years and is traditionally held during the first full week of May.