Definitely bring some cash along, but leave the microwave popcorn at home.
That's one of the tips Grade 6 students at Carl A. Nesbitt Public School learned May 6 from City of Greater Sudbury officials during the launch of Emergency Preparedness Week.
After Mayor Brian Bigger officially proclaimed the week of May 5-11 as Emergency Preparedness Week in Greater Sudbury, the students took part in a planning exercise.
With help from local emergency officials, they were given a box and a variety of items, and were asked what they should pack and what they should leave behind in an emergency.
Cash, of course, is useful when electronic payment systems are down, and microwave popcorn wouldn't be of much use when there's no power to run a microwave.
The students were faced with hypothetical natural disasters such as floods and forest fires, and even a zombie apocalypse.
“I definitely think it's useful, and especially for kids, because I don't think they'd be as educated in this kind of thing,” said Grade 6 student Robbie Payne, adding kids his age could be home alone during an emergency.
The theme of Emergency Preparedness Week is “are you ready?”
“What we would really like people to do is think about their own personal preparedness, because in an emergency, it takes time for first responders to get to you,” said Mike MacIsaac, executive deputy chief of community safety with the City of Greater Sudbury.
“The idea behind the 72-hour emergency kit is important because first responders are going to be dealing with the most vulnerable people and the hardest-hit first.
“If you have been hit, but are not in such a bad state as others, you need to make sure that you can be self-sufficient and self-resilient to take care of yourself until the officials can get there.”
He advises people to think not only about creating an emergency preparedness kit — resources for what those should contain are available on the city's website — but also what potential hazards exist near you, and to create an emergency plan for your family.
