Emergencies can happen at any time, and with little or no warning.
Would you be ready if a significant blizzard, tornado, flood or hailstorm hit the area?
The key to responding to an emergency is being prepared before it happens. That means developing an emergency plan for your household, having an emergency kit, and staying informed.
Here are a few tips, as well as links to resources, that will help you plan for the unexpected.
Make an Emergency Plan
An emergency plan will help everyone in your household know what to do in the event of an emergency.
It should include information like:
- Safe exits from home and neighbourhood
- Meeting places to reunite with family or roommates
- Designated person to pick up children should you be unavailable
- Emergency numbers and contact information
- Health and insurance information
- Places for your pet to stay
- Risks in the area
- Location of your fire extinguisher, water valve, electrical panel, gas valve and floor drain
There are online tools to help you create an Emergency Plan for your household at https://beprepared.emergencymanagementontario.ca/myplan/
Assemble an Emergency Kit
Some items to have in your emergency kit include:
- food (non-perishable and easy-to-prepare items, enough for three days) and a manual can opener
- bottled or bagged water (4 litres per person for each day) and backup water purification tablets
- medication(s)
- toilet paper and other personal items such as soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.
- personal protective equipment (PPE) such as medical masks and respirators
- back up chargers and power banks for cell phone or mobile device
- cash in small bills
- portable light source such as a flashlight, headlamp or glow stick
- radio (crank or battery-run)
- extra batteries
- first-aid kit
- candles and matches/lighter
- hand sanitizer or moist towelettes
- important papers such as a copy of your emergency plan, identification, contact lists, copies of prescriptions, etc.
- extra car and house keys
- whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
- sealable plastic bag (to keep things dry)
- garbage bags and duct tape
Stay informed
There are many resources available online to help you stay informed before and during an emergency.
Area highway conditions- https://511on.ca/
Environment Canada weather alerts - https://weather.gc.ca/mainmenu/alert_menu_e.html
Alert Ready – Canada’s emergency alerting system - https://www.alertready.ca/
Emergency management in Ontario - https://www.ontario.ca/page/emergency-management
How to be Prepared for Different Types of Emergencies
Safety for All – Ensure everyone, including children, seniors, people with disabilities and pets are prepared for an emergency
Stratford Emergency Response Plan
In the event the Mayor declares a natural or man-made City emergency, the Stratford Emergency Response Plan (PDF) ensures a coordinated response for the Stratford community. The plan provides key officials, agencies and departments within the City of Stratford with a general guideline to the initial response to an emergency and an overview of their responsibilities during an emergency.