Would you and your family be prepared for an emergency in your community? Emergencies can happen when you least expect them and disasters often strike with little warning.

National Emergency Preparedness Week is May 5-11 and it’s the perfect time for families in Simcoe County to create their own family emergency response plan. But being prepared is something that should be top of mind 365 days a year.

Recent events in April, such as the tornado in Shelburne and the flooding in Huntsville, Muskoka and the northern parts of Simcoe County, reinforce the importance of being prepared for whatever emergency may come. Emergency Management Simcoe County plans throughout the year to ensure the County and its residents are ready for any emergency or disaster that comes our way. County employees, volunteers, and outside organizations involved in the County of Simcoe emergency management program take part in extensive training exercises at least once a year that test the County’s Emergency Response Plan.

Is your family as prepared if an emergency hits your neighbourhood?

There are four steps to being prepared in the case of an emergency. First, know the risks by identifying what hazards exist in your area. Secondly, make a plan. Do this by preparing an emergency plan so your family knows what to do and where to go in the event of an incident. Thirdly, prepare a kit. Gather the necessary supplies required to be self-sufficient for 72 hours should an emergency occur. Lastly, know what to do. There are always unknowns in any emergency, but be proactive and take a first aid and CPR course and learn how to protect your family and your home from specific disasters.

Information on how to make a family emergency plan and what to include in an emergency preparedness kit is available in the County of Simcoe’s Emergency Preparedness Guide, which is available online at simcoe.ca or in printed format by contacting the County of Simcoe at 705-735-6901.

Emergencies of all magnitudes are frightening. Whether it’s your home flooding, an extended power outage, or a tornado touching down in your community—you can never be too prepared. By taking the time to develop a family emergency response plan today, you are preparing your family for the unknown of tomorrow.