It’s Emergency Preparedness Week

Let's learn, plan and prepare together

Emergencies can happen anywhere at any time - sometimes without warning. We are strongest when we work together - as neighbours, community members and organizations - to prepare, respond and recover.

This week is Emergency Preparedness Week, proclaimed by the City of Vaughan from Sunday, May 3 to Saturday, May 9, and the City is encouraging everyone to understand the important role we each play in planning for an emergency. Whether it's making a family emergency plan, checking in on a neighbour, volunteering or partnering with other organizations, every action strengthens our collective preparedness.

How the City prepares

The City prepares year-round to respond to emergencies through co-ordinated planning, training and response efforts, led by Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service and supported by City departments and partner agencies.

• During an emergency, the City works to protect lives and property by providing emergency response, managing hazards, maintaining essential services, issuing public safety measures and communicating with residents and media.

• After an emergency, the City focuses on recovery by assessing community impacts, protecting public well-being and restoring services to help the community return to normal.

These efforts are guided by Vaughan's Emergency Plan (PDF), which ensures the City is prepared, co-ordinated and resilient. Watch our video to learn about municipal preparedness.

How you can prepare

This week, take some time to educate yourself and members of your household on what to do in the event of an emergency. When individuals and families know what to do before, during and after an emergency, outcomes are safer, calmer and more co-ordinated.

Here's how you can get started:

1. Make a plan. Create an emergency plan (PDF) with everyone living in your household.

2. Prepare emergency kits. Gather enough supplies to last everyone, including pets, for at least 72 hours.

• A basic home emergency kit should include water, non-perishable foods, a flashlight, a radio, batteries, first aid supplies, candles and matches, important documents, medications, power banks and cash.

• A pet emergency kit may include food, water, medications, health records, identification, a leash or carrier, and comfort items.

• Gather a car emergency kit with additional items to help when you're on the road, such as a blanket, booster cables, vehicle fluids and a shovel.

Watch our pet preparedness and commuter preparedness videos to learn how to create emergency kits. Review Vaughan's Emergency Preparedness Plan (PDF) for a complete list of items to include in each kit.

Enter our contest

Are you prepared? Take our short survey by Saturday, May 9 at 11:59 p.m. to test your readiness and enter for a chance to win one of five 72-hour emergency preparedness kits. The survey should take approximately one minute to complete.

Stay informed

Do you know where to turn for accurate and timely information in the event of an emergency? During an emergency, the City will post information and updates on vaughan.ca and our official social media channels. If you see emergency information posted on other social media profiles, make sure to verify its accuracy - only rely on trusted sources, like the City, to get up-to-date information. Staying in the know can help keep you and your family safe. Safety alerts and updates can also be issued via Alert Ready broadcasts, delivered directly to your cellphone.

To learn more Emergency Preparedness tips and complete our survey, visit vaughan.ca/EmergencyPlanning.

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