Blog / A Helpful Guide for Alberta Emergency Preparedness Week

A Helpful Guide for Alberta Emergency Preparedness Week

Are you fully prepared to take the right actions in case of a local emergency? Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) 2024 is happening from May 5 to May 11 this year in Alberta. This year's campaign is all about being prepared and understanding your risks. The government of Alberta has created a helpful toolkit that is now available online, providing valuable resources to enhance your preparedness efforts.

Published April 26, 2024

Are You Prepared For Emergencies?

Emergency preparedness entails equipping yourself with knowledge and getting the right supplies to prepare you and your family for disasters like floods, wildfires, and health emergencies that could affect you and your community. It’s important because being prepared can save lives, protect your property, and help your community recover faster. Being ready involves planning, practicing, and working together so you can stay safe during emergencies.

Understanding Your Risks

It’s crucial to know the risks specific to your location to ensure better preparedness for emergencies. Depending on where you live in Alberta, you need to be prepared for:

By identifying these risks, you can take proactive measures to mitigate their impact and keep yourself and your community safe. To learn about how to prepare for potential community risks, visit the online Emergency Preparedness Toolkit.

Make Emergency Preparation a Habit

Preparing for emergencies should become a regular habit to ensure you are ready when disaster strikes. Start by creating an emergency plan that includes evacuation routes, communication strategies, and essential supplies like food, water, and medications. Stay informed about potential hazards in your area and be ready to act quickly if an emergency occurs. Regularly review and update your emergency plan to adapt to changing circumstances and ensure your preparedness remains effective.

Empowering Communities with Resources

The EP Week Toolkit provides a comprehensive suite of resources to support your preparedness campaigns. This includes an annual theme aligned across Alberta, campaign planning ideas, and editable communications materials tailored to your community’s needs. Explore public education materials such as informative videos, fact sheets, checklists, and QR code posters for your community at alberta.ca/resources-for-your-community.

Stay Informed and Take Action

Join the Resilience Builders Network to receive the quarterly Resilience Builders Bulletin, offering program updates and resilience-building ideas. Sign up at [email protected]. Additionally, stay updated with weekly Prompting Preparedness messages, encouraging simple preparedness actions that can be shared through various communication channels.

Utilizing Teaching Moments

Embrace teaching moments throughout the year to reinforce preparedness. For instance, use National Public Alerting system tests as opportunities to introduce preparedness concepts, especially to youth. The National Test Alert Day Guide provides engaging lessons for discussions.

Get Support

For more information and support, connect with the Alberta Emergency Management Agency. The AEMA team is available Monday to Friday from 8:15 am to 4:30 pm at 780-422-9000 (310-0000 toll-free within Alberta) or via email at [email protected].

Let’s work together to build a safer and more resilient Alberta!