Released on May 5, 2015
May 3 to 9 marks National Emergency Preparedness Week in the province.“All Saskatchewan families need to take the time to plan for emergencies -- what you need and where you will go in the event of a flood, fire, or storm,” Provincial Fire Commissioner Duane McKay said. “Putting together a plan for your home only takes a few hours but can save lives.”
One of the easiest things a family can do when emergency planning is to prepare a basic kit, which is accessible in the home, with supplies that should last at least 72 hours.
Family kits should include:
- bottled water
- flashlight, radio and batteries
- first-aid kit
- non-perishable food and a manual can opener
- prescriptions, medications and medical documents
- cash
- information such as your home’s floor plan, location of emergency exits, a meeting area, up-to-date contact information and health card information
Emergency Management organizations across the country also suggest once you have your family's plan and 72 hour kit ready that you should adequately prepare for the safety of your pets.
“When disaster strikes, the same rules that apply to people apply to pets,” Regina Humane Society Executive Director Lisa Koch said. “Preparation makes all the difference and if it's not safe for you, it's not safe for them. Having supplies and a plan before a disaster will give you peace of mind, save precious time and maybe even your pet’s life.”
Pet kits should include:
- Leashes, harnesses, and pet carriers
- Blanket
- non-perishable pet food, and bowls
- water
- toys
In April 2015, the Government of Saskatchewan implemented SaskAlert, Saskatchewan’s only province-wide emergency public alerting system. In the event of an emergency, visit www.SaskAlert.ca to receive up-to-date information on developing situations.
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For more information, contact:
Jay Teneycke
Government Relations
Regina
Phone: 306-798-6095
Email: jay.teneycke@gov.sk.ca