"Today marks to beginning of Canada's 26th annual Emergency Preparedness (EP) week, an opportunity to remind Canadians of the importance of being prepared for any emergency situation that may occur in their local community. This year's theme, "Emergency Preparedness: Be Ready for Anything", reminds Canadians to take action by ensuring their family's readiness. Even though the global pandemic is still top of mind, emergencies know no bounds, which is why it is crucial that we be prepared for unforeseen circumstances and continue to follow public health guidance.
On May 5th, most provincial and territorial partners plan to issue a public awareness test of the Alert Ready system over television, radio and wireless networks. Regular testing of the system helps ensure that in times of an emergency or disaster, we are prepared to deliver urgent and lifesaving warnings to the public. I encourage Canadians to visit the Alert Ready website to find out what time they can expect to receive the alert in your area.
As Canadians, we know that our expansive geography and contrasting climates bring a range of natural hazards that often vary from region to region. On March 8th, Public Safety Canada launched an Emergency Preparedness Advertising Campaign. It demonstrates that with a little preparation we can respond to these events quickly by knowing the risks, making a plan and building an emergency kit. We also know that spring can bring much flooding across the country as we enter spring. Flood ready is a great resource for Canadians to help protect their property and community from damage caused by flooding.
This year, Canadians have a chance to win one of seven emergency preparedness kits by joining our online social media challenge. All you have to do is share a tip or picture showing what you are doing to ensure you and your family are prepared to cope during an emergency and use the hashtag #ReadyForAnything. It can be as simple as making your own emergency kit, creating a family emergency plan, or becoming more informed about the hazards in your area. Visit the EP Week website
