Emergency Preparedness Week, a national event that educates communities across the province about actions people can take to prepare for emergency, is running until May 11 in Ontario. In honour of this year’s theme, “Prepared Together”, Dufferin County is reminding residents of the importance of community during emergencies.

“There are many steps we can take to prepare for emergencies, like knowing our risks, building our emergency kits, and staying informed,” says Steve Murphy, Manager, Preparedness and 9-1-1, Dufferin County. “But we should also always remember that by being there for each other during times of need, we can help keep everyone in our community safe and respond quickly in the face of an emergency.”

Dufferin County calls on its community to keep the following tips top of mind this Emergency Preparedness Week and always to ensure we are Prepared Together:

• Get to know your neighbours. Check in on them often, but especially during emergencies. Share your contact information with those around you. There’s no way to know when the next emergency or disaster might hit, and some people – like seniors or those with chronic health issues – can be quickly impacted by weather events like heat warnings or forest fires. We’re always stronger when we are there for one another and make acting together a priority.
• Build an emergency kit for pets, schools or your workplace. Disasters can happen when people are away from home, and while many might ensure they prepare an emergency kit for their household, sometimes our pets and shared spaces can be forgotten about, especially in stressful emergency situations. Thinking of others is key to building a community that is Prepared Together. Offer to make an emergency kit with key items like first aid supplies and flashlights for your local school or workplace, and stockpile a kit to have handy in an emergency for your neighbourhood’s beloved pets, with things like water, food, toys and blankets. More tips on building a kit can be found on the County’s website.
• Consider coordinating a presentation with the County’s Emergency Preparedness team! If you’re hosting a block party, club meeting or community event, County staff would love to join to chat about how neighbours and community groups can prepare together for emergencies before they happen. Community members can reach out to management@dufferincounty.ca to learn more.

“It’s our goal to help Dufferin’s neighbours prepare so that our community is strong in the face of emergencies,” says Brenna Thompson, Emergency Management Specialist, Dufferin County. “We know how important togetherness is to being safe and resilient. We encourage Dufferin residents to prioritize being Prepared Together this Emergency Preparedness Week and always, and to keep being there for each other, like our community is always known to do.”

Residents can learn more about emergency preparedness in Dufferin County at www.dufferincounty.ca.