BY SCOTT HUNTER HADDOW
Pretend it?s late at night and you?re awakened from a deep sleep by someone knocking loudly on the front door.
It?s the police announcing an immediate evacuation of your neighborhood because a train derailed and there is poisonous gas leaking and fears there could be an explosion.
You believe you only have minutes, if not seconds to get to a safe distance.
Are you prepared for an emergency like this? Are you prepared for any kind of an emergency?
The City of Greater Sudbury has official proclaimed May 4th to 10th as Emergency Preparedness Week. This year?s theme is Prepare Now! Learn How!
?Emergency Preparedness Week provides an ideal opportunity for us to build public awareness,? said Greater Sudbury Mayor Jim Gordon. ?Emergency preparedness begins at the local level - in our homes and in our communities.?
Representatives from the City of Greater Sudbury Police, Fire and Emergency Medical Services, The Canadian Red Cross, Emergency Management Ontario and Critical Incident Stress Management will be at the New Sudbury Shopping Centre Thursday, May 10 to host an information exhibit from 9 am to 9 pm.
The exhibit will then move to the foyer of the police building on Friday, May 9.
From the exhibits citizens will learn how to be prepared and what to do in case of an emergency.
?People should begin the process of learning what to do in the event of an emergency and learn how
to turn that knowledge into action,? said Joe Nicholls, Director of Greater Sudbury?s Emergency Medical Services (EMS).
There are many simple things an individual can do to prepare for the unthinkable.
?People should learn first aid, post emergency numbers in their homes and have an emergency survival kit to last three days ? said Nicholls. ?In an emergency you might be without water, food or electricity for awhile - so it?s good to be prepared.?
The importance of the survival kit was echoed by Jeannine Morin, EMS Public Education Officer.
?That is the main focus of Emergency Preparedness Week,? said Morin. ?Some of the things in the kit should include extra clothing, blankets, medications and keys.?
Morin will be at the New Sudbury Shopping Centre with survival kits for people to view and she will give tips on how to tailor kits to individual and family needs.
The kit is vital to survival.
?Everyone should be prepared to take care of themselves and their families for up to three days in the event of an emergency or disaster,? said Morin. ?For example, it could take three days to clear roads due to a severe winter storm.?
In the event of a disaster, Sudbury is already well-prepared.
The City?s Emergency Response Plan is reviewed and updated annually. The plan is a key element of the community?s Emergency Management Program. It provides the framework for activities to be undertaken to ensure the protection and preservation of life in times of crisis when an efficient, co-ordinated emergency response is required.
?The city is ready to provide leadership and support in a co-ordinated, community wide effort,? said Tim Beadman, Acting General Manager of Emergency Services. ?Residents of our city still have to look out for themselves and should know what to do during an emergency situation.?
As part of the week, the Sudbury branch of the Canadian Red Cross will host a number of emergency preparedness presentations in local schools.
For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.city.greatersudbury.on.ca for an online guidebook on emergency preparedness and a list of interesting and educational websites.
