While the City of Chilliwack has emergency plans in place for every possible emergency or natural disaster situation in Chilliwack, it is vital for each family to have an emergency plan as well. This week is Emergency Preparedness Week and if you haven’t yet, there is no better time to start planning for your family’s safety.
Preparing for an emergency is important and something the whole family can do. By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies and minimize the impact on yourselves and your families.
Here are three simple steps to better prepare your family to face a range of emergencies:
• Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region (like what to do in the case of floods, earthquakes, wind storms, and technological or environmental accidents such as chemical spills and power failures) can help us better prepare.
• Make a plan – Every Canadian household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do if disaster strikes. We should all practice what to do in different emergency situations.
• Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we may need to get by without power or tap water. We will all need some basic supplies (items such as three day supply of water, non-perishable food, a flashlight, batteries, battery powered or wind up radio, first aid kit, pocket knife, prescriptions, extra set of keys and money, and copies of important documents.)
Find checklists for what goes into a basic kit and extra items, how to write an emergency plan and details on hazards in our area at www.chilliwack.com/ep.