Emergency Preparedness Week 2025
Sample articles
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:
- If possible, use non-voice channels like text messaging, email or social media. These use less bandwidth than voice communications and may work even when phone service doesn't
- If you must use a phone, keep your conversation brief and convey only vital information to emergency personnel and/or family. This will also conserve your phone's battery
- Unable to complete a call? Wait 10 seconds before redialing to help reduce network congestion
- Keep a charger for your mobile device in your emergency kit. Consider getting a solar-powered, crank, or vehicle phone charger. If you don't have a cell phone, keep a prepaid phone card in your emergency kit
- Keep your contacts up to date on your phone, email, and other channels. This will make it easier to reach important contacts, such as friends, family, neighbours, child's school, or insurance agent
- If you have a smartphone, save your safe meeting location(s) on its mapping application
- Conserve your smartphone's battery by reducing the screen's brightness, placing your phone in airplane mode, and closing apps you are not using. You never know how long a power outage will last!
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 2025 - May 4 to 10, 2025
Be Prepared. Know your Risks
Natural hazards 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 4-10, 2025) encourages people in Canada to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their household 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:
- Know the risks – Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you better prepare
- Make a plan – It will help you and your family know what to do
- Get an emergency kit – During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency
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.
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