The document discusses the importance of personal emergency preparedness. It notes several past emergencies in Alberta like floods and fires that have impacted thousands of residents and underscores that even smaller events can displace people from their homes. The document recommends having a 72-hour emergency kit and outlines the basic contents it should include, like water, food, flashlight, radio, cash and toiletries. It also stresses the importance of having an emergency plan and practicing it with your family, being informed of risks in your local area, and staying updated during emergencies through official alerts and media. Being prepared at a personal level is crucial as it only takes one household being impacted to demonstrate the importance of emergency planning.

1. PERSONAL EMERGENCY
PREPAREDNESS
Why everyone needs to be prepared
for the unexpected!
2013
Alberta Emergency Management Agency

2. DO WE NEED TO BE
PREPARED?
• Slave Lake
• High River
• Hub Oil Explosion
• 2010 Medicine Hat / Cypress Flooding
• 2013 Alberta Flooding
• But many are smaller events!
• Edmonton Rutherford Condo Fire – 25 people
out for weeks

3. WHY DON’T WE PREPARE?
• How many of you have a 72 hour kit right
now?
• “It takes too much time”
• “It won’t happen to me”
• “It won’t be that bad”
• “If it is that bad, there’s nothing you can do”
• “The government will help”
• “It costs too much”

4. FOUR PARTS
• Know the Risks
• Create a Plan for Your Family / Practice the
Plan
• Have a 72 Hour Kit
• Be Informed

5. 2013 Southern Alberta Flooding
100,000 Albertans learn the importance of
personal preparedness

6. WHAT ARE THE RISKS?
• Fire
• Floods
• Tornadoes
• Power Outages
• Dangerous Goods
• Pipeline Breaks
• Winds
• Landslides
• Water Quality
• Train Derailments
• Snow Storms
EACH COMMUNITY WILL BE
DIFFERENT!

7. HOW WILL YOU BE ALERTED?
• Knock on the door
• Media
• Community (Twitter, Sirens, reverse 911)
• Alberta Emergency Alert
• View at www.albertaemergencyalert.ca
• Sign up with Twitter or Facebook (on the
website)

8. PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
2011 Slave Lake Wildfires
10,000+ Albertans learn the importance
of personal preparedness

9. HAVE A PLAN
• Where will you go? (Close and further)
• How will you reunite? (Phone Numbers)
• Are there evacuation routes?
• What if your normal exit road is blocked?
• What about other plans?

10. PRACTICE THE PLAN
• Reminds you of the plan
• Ensures it works
• Helps identify changes (e.g. new phone
number, brother has moved)

11. PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
2010 Airdrie Train Derailment
47,000+ Albertans might have needed
evacuation

12. IF YOU ONLY HAVE ONE ITEM IN
YOUR KIT, WHAT SHOULD IT
BE?
• Water!
• $5 - $10 for a jug
• Can you run with a jug?
• Backpack with small
bottles

13. WHAT ELSE?
• Flashlight
• Radio to hear emergency information/alerts
• Cash (small bills)
• Toilet Paper
• Toiletries
• Food? You can go for days without it!
• Cell phone charger
• Flash Drive with important papers/copies

14. ADD A CHECKLIST
• If you only have 5 minutes to evacuate, what
do you bring?
• Pictures / computer
• Heirlooms and mementos
• Medications / prescription
• Jewelry and valuables
• Keys/wallet/purse/glasses (easy to forget!)
• Appropriate clothing for the weather
• STAPLE TO YOUR BACKPACK!

15. CLOTHES AND BLANKETS?
• Why buy stuff you will never use?
• Take old blankets and favourite sweaters and
put in a bag.
• Commercial kits often have trinkets like a
whistle, glow-stick and compass.
• Consider your camping gear for cooking

16. THOSE DEPENDANT ON YOU
• Children
• Pets
• Elderly
• Dependent adults
• Temporary situations – crutches, pregnancy,
visitors
• A separate bag and/or list may be required

17. BE INFORMED
• Listen to the radio, watch media reports
• Monitor Twitter, Facebook, municipal websites
• Sign up for Alberta Emergency Alert
• Talk to municipal officials
17

18. “I NEVER EXPECTED IT TO
HAPPEN TO ME!”
• Reporter in Australia with the Brisbaine
Floods
• Had the 72 hour kit and got to the evacuation
centre.
• Diapers, baby formula, toys, blankets in a
well-prepared kit.
HER KIDS WERE IN COLLEGE!

19. PERSONAL PREPAREDNESS
2013 Edmonton Condo Fire
200 evacuated, 25 out for days/weeks

20. THIS IS FOR YOUR FAMILY
• Does it matter if it is one house or a
thousand?
• Being singed is more likely than being
directly impacted.
• Studies have shown, if you don’t get the water
today, you won’t do it at all.

21. FOUR PARTS
• Know the Risks
• Have a 72 Hour Kit
• Create a Plan for Your Family / Practice the
Plan
• Be Informed

22. 22
Thank you!
http://www.aema.alberta.ca/personal_emergency_preparedness.cfm