RCMP shares tips for emergency preparedness week

By Medicine Hat News on May 7, 2024.

newsdesk@medicinehatnews.com@MedicineHatNews

As May 5-11 is Emergency Preparedness Week across Canada, the RCMP is reminding citizens to keep aware what in their lives could potentially create an emergency.

This year’s theme, “Be Prepared. Know Your Risks,” follows exactly that intent, encouraging Canadians to understand the risks in their area and learn what actions that they can take to protect themselves, their families and properties.

With the vast diversity of the province, Albertans face a wide array of different potential emergencies that vary greatly depending on their region.

With experiences such as infrastructure failures like power outages, train derailments and oil spills, or natural disasters like floods, wildfires, blizzards, tornadoes and heat waves, it is important to be prepared to respond to these emergencies as they arise, whether that means sheltering in place or evacuating to a safe location, said RCMP.

“The Alberta RCMP is committed to ensuring the safety of Albertans and their communities during any emergency situation, but it’s important that you do your part as well,” says Staff Sgt. Rodney Koscielny, Officer in Charge of the Alberta RCMP Operational Readiness and Response Unit. “It’s essential that everyone is taking steps to keep themselves, their property and each other safe.”

With the upcoming week in mind, the RCMP offered a series of tips to help minimize risks during an emergency. These suggestions include preparing an emergency kit that is readily accessible in case of evacuation.

Creating a household preparedness plan including emergency exits, evacuations routes, safe meeting spots and important contact information is also vital, said RCMP. Make sure all household members are aware of the plan.

Ensure your home and property are secured, so you don’t have to worry about the safety of your belongings in an emergency, and if you have pets, ensure you have identified animal-friendly accommodations in case of evacuation. Farms should also keep a list of equipment or tools needed to evacuate or transport livestock, and a means to identify them.

For more information on how to be ready for emergencies, the RCMP recommends residents visit alberta.ca/emergency-preparedness, as well as download he Alberta RCMP App and the Alberta Emergency Alert App for details on emergencies in their region.

11
-10