Emergency Preparedness Week Toolkit

May 5-11, 2024

Thank you for your interest in promoting emergency preparedness!

By taking an active role in your community, you are helping to build a culture of preparedness in Canada. While governments at all levels are working hard to keep Canada safe, everyone has a role to play in being prepared for an emergency.

Building awareness is a great first step. With your help, together we can communicate the importance of emergency preparedness to all Canadians.

Emergency Preparedness Week

This year, Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is May 5-11, 2024.

Emergency Preparedness Week is a national awareness initiative that has taken place annually since 1996. It is a collaborative event undertaken by provincial and territorial emergency management organizations supporting activities at the local level, in concert with Public Safety Canada and partners. EP Week encourages Canadians to take three simple steps to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies:

Welcome to the EP Week Toolkit

This Toolkit was developed by Public Safety Canada in collaboration with partners. It includes tips and ideas to help promote EP Week.

In This Toolkit

Introduction

Tips and Ideas to Promote EP Week

This year, explore ways to promote EP Week while maintaining physical distance.

Resources

Downloadable Graphics

Social Media

EP Week banner

Download this image (JPG, 378 KB)

EP Week banner

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Poster

EP Week Poster

Download this image (PDF, 8.9 KB)

Web Banner

EP Week banner

Download this image (JPG, 29 KB)

Static banner for Word

EP Week banner

Download this image (JPG, 25 KB)

Videos

Watch and share these short videos explaining how to prepare a family emergency kit and how to prepare a family emergency plan. The two videos are less than 4 minutes and explain, in plain language, what is included in an emergency kit and why everybody should have one.

Publications

www.GetPrepared.ca provides a range of free online publications on emergency preparedness.

Using Social Media

Social Media

Ideas for using social media for Emergency Preparedness Week (or anytime!):

Sample Tweets

Please note: all links refer to content on GetPrepared.ca; they may also be shortened by a service such as goo.gl. Add links to your own organization's website as applicable.

Remember, you could also retweet @Get_Prepared's tweets!

Using Hashtags on Twitter

A hashtag is a word or phrase (without spaces) following a hash symbol (#) used to tag a tweet on a particular topic of interest.

Add the hashtag #EPWeek2024 and #ReadyforAnything to your tweets to join the online conversation on emergency preparedness. Using the hashtags will make it easy for users to come across your tweets when searching for messages on the topic of Emergency Preparedness Week.

Sample Articles / Email Message

These articles may be used on your website, newsletter, blog, etc. or sent to your community newspaper.

Using Technology During a Disaster

We rely on technology more and more to keep in touch with our family, friends, and colleagues with a click of a button. But what happens in the event of a major emergency? Suddenly these tools can become vital in helping you and your family deal get in touch and stay informed. So here are some tips on the use of technology in an emergency:

Remember, in an emergency or to save a life, call 9-1-1 for help. You cannot currently text 9-1-1. If you are not experiencing an emergency, do not call 9-1-1. If your area offers 3-1-1 service or another information system, call that number for non-emergencies.

Emergency Management in Canada: How Does It Work?

In a country that borders on three oceans and spans six time zones, creating an emergency response system that works for every region is a huge challenge. That's why emergency management in Canada is a shared responsibility. That means everyone has an important role to play, including individuals, communities, governments, the private sector and volunteer organizations.

In Canada, emergency response is handled first at the local level by fire departments, police, and other municipal resources. If local first responders need further assistance, they can request it from neighbouring municipalities or from their Province or Territory. When an emergency escalates beyond their response capabilities, Provincial or Territorial bodies issue a Request for Federal Assistance (RFA) from the Government of Canada, based on their specific requirements.

RFAs are managed through Public Safety Canada’s Government Operations Centre (GOC), which is mandated, on behalf of the Government of Canada, to support preparedness for and lead the coordination of the integrated federal response to all-hazard events of national interest. The GOC receives the RFA and, through the implicated Public Safety Regional Office, works closely with the Provincial or Territorial Emergency Management Organization to coordinate the submission, approval and execution of a request.

Everyone responsible for Canada's emergency management system shares the common goal of preventing or managing disasters.

Suggested Email to Employees

EP Week 2024 - May 5 to 11, 2024

Be Prepared. Know your Risks

Natural disasters may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face.

Emergency Preparedness Week (May 5-11, 2024) encourages Canadians to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies. This special week is a national effort lead by  Public Safety Canada, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, and private sector.

I encourage you to contact (name and number of emergency coordinator), our departmental emergency coordinator to learn about our role in emergency response.

By taking a few simple steps, you can become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. It is important to:

Visit www.getprepared.ca (or your EMO or local website) for more resources to help you and your family prepare for all types of emergencies.

This week, I encourage you to take concrete actions to be better prepared. Please do your part! Experience has shown that individual preparedness goes a long way to help people cope better - both during and after a major disaster. Get an emergency kit now - it can make a world of difference.

Sample Quiz

1. A family emergency plan should NOT include which of the following?

  1. Information about your children's school(s)
  2. The name and phone number of an out-of-town contact person
  3. A list of important phone numbers, including those of doctors and emergency services
  4. Arrangements for each person in the family to be at a specific land line telephone at a specific time
  5. A meeting spot outside your home and one outside your neighbourhood in case you need to leave the area

The answer is D. The arrangements for each family member to be at a specific land line telephone at a specific time may not be possible or useful under many conditions, as people may have to relocate or evacuate entirely during a disaster. Families should create an emergency plan and carry important information with them so they know how to get in touch and get back together during an emergency. Finally, both telephone land lines and cellular phones may be overloaded or out of service during or after an emergency, so knowing in advance where to meet is important.

2. How many litres of water per day per person should you have in your basic emergency kit?

  1. 1 litre per day per person
  2. 3 litres per day per person
  3. 2 litres per day per person
  4. 4 litres per day per person

The answer is C. At least two litres of water are recommended per person per day. Be sure to include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order.

3. Which tool allows you to learn about historical information on disasters which have directly affected Canadians, at home and abroad, over the past century?

  1. Weatheradio
  2. Canadian Disaster Database
  3. Natural Hazards and Emergency Response
  4. Disaster Management Canada

The answer is B. The Canadian Disaster Database contains references to all types of Canadian disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards, technological hazards or conflict (not including war). The database describes where and when a disaster occurred, who was affected, and provides a rough estimate of the direct costs.

4. When does Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) occur?

  1. First full week of February
  2. First full week of September
  3. Last full week of February
  4. Last full week of May
  5. First full week of May

The answer is E. EP Week is an annual event that takes place each year during the first full week of May. This year it takes place from May 5-11, 2024. EP Week is a national awareness campaign coordinated by Public Safety Canada and is about increasing individual preparedness - by knowing the risks, making a plan and preparing a kit you can be better prepared for an emergency.

5. Which of the following items should NOT be included in a basic emergency supply kit?

  1. Water (two litres of water per person per day)
  2. Food
  3. Manual can opener
  4. Cash
  5. Comfortable shoes

The answer is E. While sturdy protective shoes are important during and after a disaster, they are not necessary for survival. You can learn more about the basics of survival by visiting GetPrepared.ca.

Fact or Fiction: Are the following statements true or false?

Q1 - Water can be purified with soap.

False - Boil water for 10 minutes or disinfect water by adding unscented bleach. Add 3-4 drops of bleach per litre of water with an eyedropper (do not reuse eyedropper for any other purpose). Mix well and let stand for 30 minutes. The water should smell faintly of chlorine. If it does not, repeat the steps and leave for another 30 minutes.

Q2 - You can walk through moving flood waters as long as the water level is no higher than your waist.

False - One of the worst floods in Canada's history occurred in July 1996 in the Saguenay River Valley, in Quebec. Ten people died and 15,825 others were evacuated when flood waters swept through thousands of homes, businesses, roads and bridges. The flood was caused by 36 straight hours of heavy rainfall, for a total accumulation of 290 mm (approximately to the knees). Estimated damages: $1.5 billion.

Q3 - Tape prevents window glass from shattering during a hurricane.

False - Storm shutters can be put into windows and exposed panes. This is the simplest and most economical way to protect your house.

Q4 - Roughly 5,000 earthquakes are recorded in Canada every year.

True - Although the most powerful earthquakes occur near the Pacific Rim, there are a number of Canadian cities that are vulnerable to earthquakes, particularly Vancouver, Montreal, Ottawa, Victoria and Quebec City. Most of the injuries resulting from an earthquake are caused by falling objects. Use screw eyes and iron wire to hang frames and mirrors on walls.

Q5 - Tornadoes occur only in the spring.

False - Tornadoes occur most often in the spring and during the summer, but they may form any time of the year.

Q6 - Destructive hail storms occur most often in late spring and in the summer.

True - In June, most hail storms occur in southern Canada and the north central United States. Violent storms may deposit enough hail to completely cover the ground, damage crops or block storm sewers. Up to 2% of the value of crops is destroyed by hail every year.

Q7... Add to this quiz by asking questions on potential emergencies that are relevant to your region.

Appendix 1 – "Can You Build a Kit?" Game

This fun game is designed to raise awareness about emergency preparedness and more specifically, test the player's knowledge on emergency preparedness kits.

What is needed?

How it works

Place the emergency kit items on a table. Add and mix other items on the table that would not normally be found in an emergency kit.

Have participants choose the items they think belong in a kit and write them on a notepad. Give each contestant one (1) minute to complete this task.

After the one minute mark, show them the results and invite them to leave their name and contact information for the chance to win a prize!

Appendix 2 – EP Outreach Showcase

Scouts Canada logoHydro One logo

Scouts Canada’s free Emergency Ready program, through the support of Hydro One, offers youth and families tips, checklists and skills to prepare for safe response to potential hazards and conditions at home or in the community.

Through Emergency Ready, gain the confidence and skills to prepare, take action, and stay safe in a variety of emergency and unexpected situations, from extreme weather to household accidents, to protecting yourself and others during a global pandemic.

Through engaging on-line resources and hands-on activities, youth and their families will learn how to create emergency plans and kits for a variety of scenarios, identify hazards, what actions to prioritize in a crisis, how to safely assist others, basic first aid, recognize and treat shock symptoms, and more.

More information is available at Scouts Canada’s free Emergency Ready program where you’ll find:

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