The week of May 2 to 8 is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada.

2010 marks the 15th year that this week has been observed, and the need to ensure Canadians have a plan in case of an emergency is just as imperative today as it was in 1995.

In Saskatchewan, emergencies may range from floods and tornados to chemical spills or even a flu pandemic. We have to be prepared for extended power outages, severe storms and even blizzards that can leave us stranded for days.

Emergency Preparedness Week is coordinated nationally by Public Safety Canada, in cooperation with provincial/territorial emergency management organizations and our non-governmental partners. While these partners work year-round to ensure emergency plans are in place and up to date, I would like to remind the residents of Yorkton-Melville that they too have an important role to play.

Every home should have on hand an emergency kit, which will assist you in being self-sufficient for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency. This will not only help to keep you comfortable, but it will allow first responders to help those in urgent need.
Many of the contents for a basic emergency kit are items that you may already have. The key is to make sure the items are organized, easy to find and easy to carry in case you need to evacuate your home.

A basic emergency kit includes:

• Water – two litres of water per person per day;
• Food – that won't spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods;
• Manual can opener;
• Flashlight and batteries;
• Battery-powered or wind-up radio, and extra batteries;
• First aid kit;
• Special needs items – such as prescription medications, infant formula or equipment for people with disabilities;
• Extra keys – for your car and house;
• Cash – include smaller bills, such as $10 bills and change for payphones; and
• Emergency plan – that includes health information and in-town and out-of-town contact information.

It is recommended that the items of your emergency kit be placed in a backpack or suitcase with wheels so that your kit can be easily transported if you need to evacuate your home.

During this Emergency Preparedness Week, I urge you to put together your own emergency kit. For more information on putting together a basic emergency kit or advanced emergency kits visit www.GetPrepared.ca. Most importantly, don’t wait for an emergency to find out if you are prepared.

-30-