mitigation symposium - barrie brand
DESCRIPTION
Slideshow presentation for Flood Mitigation Symposium, October 4, 2013. Barrie Brand, Alberta Emergency Management AgencyTRANSCRIPT
PERSONAL EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Why everyone needs to be prepared for the unexpected!
2013
Alberta Emergency Management Agency
DO WE NEED TO BE PREPARED?
• Slave Lake
• High River
• Hub Oil Explosion
• 2010 Medicine Hat / Cypress Flooding
• 2013 Alberta Flooding
• But many are smaller events!
• Edmonton Rutherford Condo Fire – 25 people out for weeks
WHY DON’T WE PREPARE?
• How many of you have a 72 hour kit right now?
• “It takes too much time”
• “It won’t happen to me”
• “It won’t be that bad”
• “If it is that bad, there’s nothing you can do”
• “The government will help”
• “It costs too much”
FOUR PARTS
• Know the Risks
• Create a Plan for Your Family / Practice the Plan
• Have a 72 Hour Kit
• Be Informed
GET INFORMED!
2013 Southern Alberta Flooding
100,000 Albertans learn the importance of personal preparedness
WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
• Fire
• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Power Outages
• Dangerous Goods
• Pipeline Breaks
• Winds
• Landslides
• Water Quality
• Train Derailments
• Snow Storms
EACH COMMUNITY WILL BE DIFFERENT!
HOW WILL YOU BE ALERTED?
• Knock on the door
• Media
• Community (Twitter, Sirens, reverse 911)
• Alberta Emergency Alert
• View at www.albertaemergencyalert.ca
• Sign up with Twitter or Facebook (on the website)
PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
HAVE A KIT!
2011 Slave Lake Wildfires
10,000+ Albertans learn the importance of personal preparedness
HAVE A PLAN
• Where will you go? (Close and further)
• How will you reunite? (Phone Numbers)
• Are there evacuation routes?
• What if your normal exit road is blocked?
• What about other plans?
PRACTICE THE PLAN
• Reminds you of the plan
• Ensures it works
• Helps identify changes (e.g. new phone number, brother has moved)
PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
HAVE A KIT!
2010 Airdrie Train Derailment
47,000+ Albertans might have needed evacuation
IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM IN YOUR KIT, WHAT SHOULD IT BE?
• Water!
• $5 - $10 for a jug
• Can you run with a jug?
• Backpack with small bottles
WHAT ELSE?
• Flashlight
• Radio to hear emergency information/alerts
• Cash (small bills)
• Toilet Paper
• Toiletries
• Food? You can go for days without it!
• Cell phone charger
• Flash Drive with important papers/copies
ADD A CHECKLIST
• If you only have 5 minutes to evacuate, what do you bring?
• Pictures / computer
• Heirlooms and mementos
• Medications / prescription
• Jewelry and valuables
• Keys/wallet/purse/glasses (easy to forget!)
• Appropriate clothing for the weather
• STAPLE TO YOUR BACKPACK!
CLOTHES AND BLANKETS?
• Why buy stuff you will never use?
• Take old blankets and favourite sweaters and put in a bag.
• Commercial kits often have trinkets like a whistle, glow-stick and compass.
• Consider your camping gear for cooking
THOSE DEPENDANT ON YOU
• Children
• Pets
• Elderly
• Dependent adults
• Temporary situations – crutches, pregnancy, visitors
• A separate bag and/or list may be required
BE INFORMED
• Listen to the radio, watch media reports
• Monitor Twitter, Facebook, municipal
websites
• Sign up for Alberta Emergency Alert
• Talk to municipal officials
17
“I NEVER EXPECTED IT TO HAPPEN TO ME!”
• Reporter in Australia with the Brisbaine Floods
• Had the 72 hour kit and got to the evacuation centre.
• Diapers, baby formula, toys, blankets in a well-prepared kit.
HER KIDS WERE IN COLLEGE!
PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
2013 Edmonton Condo Fire
200 evacuated, 25 out for days/weeks
THIS IS FOR YOUR FAMILY
• Does it matter if it is one house or a thousand?
• Being singed is more likely than being directly impacted.
• Studies have shown, if you don’t get the water today, you won’t do it at all.
FOUR PARTS
• Know the Risks
• Have a 72 Hour Kit
• Create a Plan for Your Family / Practice the Plan
• Be Informed
22
Thank you!
http://www.aema.alberta.ca/personal_emergency_preparedness.cfm