Time to Refresh Your Family’s Emergency Preparedness Plan

Bruce County is reminding residents that now is the perfect time to refresh - or create - a Family Emergency Preparedness Plan.

From sudden summer tornadoes to multi-day winter storms, rising floodwaters, and even cyber incidents that can disrupt daily life, emergencies can unfold quickly and without warning. Taking time now to plan can make all the difference when seconds count.

"Ensuring that you and your family are prepared for a possible emergency is one of the most important steps you can take," says Ray Lux, Bruce County's emergency management coordinator. "Take the time to know your risks and make a plan. You may never have to use it, but if you do, you'll be glad you made the effort."

Give yourself peace of mind by reviewing or creating your Emergency Preparedness Plan:

Step 1 - Know the Risks
Every community faces different hazards. Locally, risks that residents may encounter include:

• Severe winter weather, bringing blizzard conditions and prolonged power outages.
• Flooding, particularly during spring melt or after heavy rain.
• Tornadoes, which can develop with little warning.
• Cyber incidents, which can affect communications, utilities and essential services.

Learn more about local risks on our website at https://www.brucecounty.on.ca/getprepared, and discuss with your family how each might affect your home, workplace and daily routines.

Step 2 - Make a Home Emergency Preparedness Plan
Your Emergency Preparedness Plan should outline how your family will stay safe and support one another during an emergency.

• Plan for how you will care for your family for several days if there's a delay or excessive demand for emergency services.
• Decide on meeting places to reunite with family or roommates.
• Review your children's school emergency procedures.
• Include places for your pet to stay.
• Decide on contact people close-by and out-of-town.

You can use a fill-in-the-blank template from Canadian Red Cross or use the Government of Canada's website to make an Emergency Preparedness Plan to print out. Keep your complete Emergency Preparedness Plan with your Emergency Kit, so you know exactly where to find it.

More information, tools and resources:

• Government of Canada Emergency Management: www.getprepared.gc.ca
• Ontario Emergency Management: www.ontario.ca/page/be-prepared-emergency
• Bruce County Emergency Management: www.brucecounty.on.ca/getprepared