How to Prepare How to Prepare for Emergenciesfor Emergencies

Important InformationImportant Information

forfor SeniorsSeniors

Today’s AgendaToday’s Agenda

1.1. Anytime, AnywhereAnytime, Anywhere

2.2. York Region’s Top 5York Region’s Top 5

3.3. Two ScenariosTwo Scenarios

4.4. Staying PutStaying Put

5.5. Time to GoTime to Go

6.6. Research FindingsResearch Findings

7.7. For Further InformationFor Further Information

Emergencies can happen Emergencies can happen anytime, anywhereanytime, anywhere

Pine Lake, AB Pine Lake, AB

tornado 2000tornado 2000

Okanagan, BC Forest FireOkanagan, BC Forest Fire 20032003

Hurricane Juan, NS 2003Hurricane Juan, NS 2003

Peterborough, ON Peterborough, ON

Quebec/Ontario Ice Storm 1998Quebec/Ontario Ice Storm 1998 Flood, 2004Flood, 2004

What is an Emergency?What is an Emergency?

““A situation or an impending A situation or an impending situation that constitutes a situation that constitutes a danger of major proportions danger of major proportions that could result in: that could result in:

serious harm to serious harm to personspersons or or substantial damage to substantial damage to

propertyproperty……

Definition (cont.)Definition (cont.)

……and that is caused by:and that is caused by:

The force of nature,The force of nature, A disease or other health risk,A disease or other health risk, An accident, orAn accident, or An act, either intentional or otherwise.”An act, either intentional or otherwise.”

Ontario Emergency Management & Civil Protection ActOntario Emergency Management & Civil Protection Act

Forces of NatureForces of Nature

Disease or health riskDisease or health risk

An accidentAn accident

An act, either intentional An act, either intentional or otherwiseor otherwise

York Region’s Top 5 ThreatsYork Region’s Top 5 Threats

1. Widespread, epidemic disease in 1. Widespread, epidemic disease in humans humans

York Region’s Top 5 Threats York Region’s Top 5 Threats (cont.)(cont.)

2. Widespread, multi-day power 2. Widespread, multi-day power outages from severe winter stormsoutages from severe winter storms

York Region’s Top 5 Threats York Region’s Top 5 Threats (cont.)(cont.)

3. Slow onset floods from heavy 3. Slow onset floods from heavy sustained rainfallsustained rainfall

York Region’s Top 5 Threats York Region’s Top 5 Threats (cont.)(cont.)

4. Widespread property damage from 4. Widespread property damage from severe summer stormssevere summer storms

York Region’s Top 5 Threats York Region’s Top 5 Threats (cont.)(cont.)

5. Transportation-Hazardous materials 5. Transportation-Hazardous materials incidentsincidents

2 Possible Emergency 2 Possible Emergency ScenariosScenarios

You may be instructed to:You may be instructed to:

Stay (shelter in place)Stay (shelter in place) Leave (evacuate)Leave (evacuate)

Prepare for Prepare for both!both!

Staying Put Staying Put (Shelter in Place)(Shelter in Place)

Prepare to shelter in place by storing:Prepare to shelter in place by storing:

1.1. WaterWater

2.2. FoodFood

3.3. First aid suppliesFirst aid supplies

4.4. MedicationsMedications

5.5. Tools and suppliesTools and supplies

1. Three days worth of water1. Three days worth of water

4 litres per person4 litres per person

per day X 3 daysper day X 3 days

Shelter in PlaceShelter in Place

Shelter in Place Shelter in Place (cont.)(cont.)

2. Three days worth of food per person2. Three days worth of food per person

Don’t forget your pets!Don’t forget your pets!

Shelter in Place Shelter in Place (cont.)(cont.)

3. First aid supplies3. First aid supplies

Shelter in Place Shelter in Place (cont.)(cont.)

4. Medications4. Medications

Keep extra prescription Keep extra prescription

& non-prescription & non-prescription

medications on handmedications on hand

Shelter in Place Shelter in Place (cont.)(cont.)

5. Tools and supplies5. Tools and supplies

Time to go!Time to go!(Evacuate)(Evacuate)

a) Prepare to evacuate by assembling a a) Prepare to evacuate by assembling a

““Go bag”Go bag” in advance in advance

What you will needWhat you will need

Your Go Bag contents:Your Go Bag contents:

1. Water 1. Water (2 litres/person/day x 3 days)(2 litres/person/day x 3 days)

2. Food – nutritious snacks2. Food – nutritious snacks

3. Health care items3. Health care items

Go Bag Go Bag (cont.)(cont.)

4. Photocopies of important family 4. Photocopies of important family documentsdocuments

5. Other supplies5. Other supplies

Want to Buy a Go Bag?Want to Buy a Go Bag?

Canadian Red Cross Canadian Red Cross

(www.redcross.ca)(www.redcross.ca)Also available at Region of York Also available at Region of York

Red Cross branchRed Cross branch

St. John Ambulance St. John Ambulance

(www.sja.ca)(www.sja.ca)Also available at Zeller’s, Canadian TireAlso available at Zeller’s, Canadian Tire

Time to go!Time to go!(Evacuate)(Evacuate)

2. Think through your 2. Think through your communication communication planplan

Who will you call if you need help? Who will you call if you need help? Who will be your out-of-area contact?Who will be your out-of-area contact? Where is your pre-arranged meeting place?Where is your pre-arranged meeting place? What other important numbers would you What other important numbers would you

need?need?

Time to go!Time to go!(Evacuate)(Evacuate)

3. Plan for your 3. Plan for your petspets

If you haveIf you have

to evacuate to evacuate

bring pets bring pets

with youwith you

Plan for Your Pets Plan for Your Pets (cont.)(cont.)

Pets,Pets, other than other than service animals, service animals, are are not allowed in public not allowed in public reception centres or reception centres or some hotelssome hotels

Some Options: Some Options: 1.1. Pre-arrange with family or friendsPre-arrange with family or friends2.2. Identify “pet-friendly” hotels, boarding Identify “pet-friendly” hotels, boarding

facilitiesfacilities

Plan for Your Pets Plan for Your Pets (cont.)(cont.)

Assemble a Pet Emergency KitAssemble a Pet Emergency Kit

Medications Medications Medical & vaccine recordsMedical & vaccine records Vet contact information Vet contact information Leash/harnessLeash/harness CarrierCarrier Photo of petPhoto of pet Food for 3 daysFood for 3 days WaterWater BowlsBowls Cat litter & panCat litter & pan Pet bedPet bed

Seniors & Emergencies: Seniors & Emergencies: Key Research FindingsKey Research Findings

1. 1. Seniors have manySeniors have many strengths,strengths, abilities & experiences abilities & experiences to draw to draw upon to help themselves and others upon to help themselves and others in disasters.in disasters.

Seniors & Emergencies: Seniors & Emergencies: Key Research Findings Key Research Findings (cont.)(cont.)

2. 2. Physical challenges associated with Physical challenges associated with agingaging can put seniors at higher risk can put seniors at higher risk during emergenciesduring emergencies

Mobility challengesMobility challenges Chronic illnessesChronic illnesses Sensory declineSensory decline

Seniors & Emergencies: Seniors & Emergencies: Key Research Findings Key Research Findings (cont.)(cont.)

3. 3. Support networks with neighbours, Support networks with neighbours, community groups, friends and community groups, friends and family are vital for your safety in an family are vital for your safety in an emergencyemergency

2003 European heat wave2003 European heat wave Isolation, communicationIsolation, communication

Seniors & Emergencies: Seniors & Emergencies: Key Research Findings Key Research Findings (cont.)(cont.)

4. 4. If you need prescription medications:If you need prescription medications:a) List of medications, a) List of medications,

conditions, & doctors’ conditions, & doctors’

contact information in walletcontact information in wallet

(with a copy in Grab & Go bag)(with a copy in Grab & Go bag)

b) Extra medicationb) Extra medication

on hand. Bring your medson hand. Bring your meds

if you have to evacuate if you have to evacuate

(monitor expiry dates)(monitor expiry dates)

In Summary…In Summary…

Emergencies will happen.Emergencies will happen.

By By planning aheadplanning ahead& taking time to & taking time to prepareprepareseniors can significantlyseniors can significantly

increase our increase our resilienceresilienceto emergencies to emergencies

& disasters & disasters

Where to Get Further Where to Get Further InformationInformation

1.1. York Region Emergency Preparedness York Region Emergency Preparedness GuideGuide

1-877-464-96751-877-464-9675

www.york.cawww.york.ca

Where to Get Further Where to Get Further InformationInformation

2.2. Public Safety Canada Public Safety Canada Your Emergency Your Emergency Preparedness GuidePreparedness Guide

1 800 O-CANADA 1 800 O-CANADA (1 800 622-6232) (1 800 622-6232)

www.getprepared.cawww.getprepared.ca

Where to Get Further Where to Get Further InformationInformation

3.3. Emergency Management Ontario Emergency Management Ontario

Emergency Preparedness Emergency Preparedness

GuideGuide

1-877-314-37231-877-314-3723

www.ontario.ca/emowww.ontario.ca/emo