Know What to Do After a Disaster
July 4, 2007

Right after the emergency, you may be confused or disoriented. Stay calm and remember the following procedures.
Help the Injured
Help anyone who is injured. Get your emergency survival kit (the first aid kit should be with it).
Listen to the Radio
Listen to your local radio station on your battery-operated radio for instructions.
Don’t Use the Telephone
Don’t use the telephone unless absolutely necessary. Emergency crews will need all available lines.
Check Your Home
Check for damage to your home. Remember the following points:
IF YOU TURN OFF THE GAS, IT SHOULD ONLY BE TURNED BACK ON BY A PROFESSIONAL FROM THE GAS COMPANY.
Watch for Hazards
Post-Earthquake Hazards
Post-Flood Hazards
Other Hazards
Be Ready to Evacuate
If the emergency is serious enough, you may be asked to leave your home and go to a nearby evacuation centre (like a school gym or a community hall).
If You Have to Evacuate
Expect Emotional Reactions
You won’t “act like yourself” for a while.
Most people caught in a disaster usually feel confused. They may tremble, feel numb, vomit or faint. Immediately after the disaster, they often feel bewildered, shocked, and relieved to be alive. These feelings and reactions are perfectly normal.
Later, many survivors sleep poorly, have no appetite, are angry with those around them, or panic at the slightest hint of a storm. Children might start thumb-sucking or bed-wetting. These feelings and reactions are perfectly normal too.
How to Get Back On Track
Here are some suggestions to help get yourself and your family back on track after the disaster:
How to Help Your Children
Children exposed to a disaster can experience a variety of intense emotional reactions, such as anxiety, fear, nervousness, stomach aches, loss of appetite and other reactions. These are normal and temporary reactions to danger. Parents can help relieve such reactions by taking their children’s fears seriously, by reassuring them, giving them additional attention and hugging them.
A CHILD WHO FEELS AFRAID IS REALLY AFRAID
After a disaster, children are most afraid that:
So comfort and reassure them. Tell them what you know about the situation. Be honest but gentle.
Encourage them to talk about the disaster. Encourage them to ask questions about the disaster.
Give them a real task to do, something that gets the family back on its feet.
Keep them with you, even if it seems easier to look for housing or help on your own. At a time like this, it’s important for the whole family to stay together.
Checklists
Think of any special needs that someone in your family might have. Include any other items that your family would need. Here are some suggestions:
Babies/Toddlers
Other Family Members
Pets
Water
Food
REPLACE CANNED FOOD AND DRY GOODS ONCE A YEAR.
Equipment
Checklist: Emergency Survival Kit
Checklist: Car Kit
This information is a synthesis of various sources. For more disaster preparedness information visit the Public Safety Canada Website.
Know What to Do During a Disaster
June 25, 2007

Here are some basic procedures for specific disasters. (For more information on these and other disasters, visit the Public Safety Canada Website.)
During an Earthquake
Stay inside. Stay away from windows. Get under a heavy desk or table and hang on. If you can’t get under something strong, flatten yourself against an interior wall, protect your head and neck.
Go to an open area. Move away from buildings or any structure that could collapse. Stay away from power lines and downed electrical wires.
Stop the car and stay in it. Avoid bridges, overpasses or underpasses, buildings or anything that could collapse on you and your car.
During a Tornado
Go to the basement immediately. If there isn’t one, crouch or lie flat (under heavy furniture) in an inner hallway or small inner room or stairwell away from windows. Stay away from large halls, arenas, shopping malls etc. (their roofs could collapse).
If there is no shelter, lie down in a ditch or ravine, protecting your head.
Get out and away from the car. It could be blown through the air or roll over you. Lie down in a ditch or ravine, protecting your head.
During a Severe Lightning Storm
Stay inside. Stay away from windows, doors, fireplaces, radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks or other electrical-charge conductors. Unplug TVs, radios, toasters, computers and other electrical appliances. Don’t use the phone or other electrical equipment.
Seek shelter in a building, cave or depressed area. If you’re caught in the open, crouch down with your feet close together and your head down (the “leap-frog” position). Don’t lie flat- by minimizing your contact with the ground, you reduce the risk of being electrocuted by a ground charge. Keep away from telephone and power lines, fences, trees and hilltops. Get off bicycles, motorcycles and tractors.
Stop the car and stay in it. Don’t stop near trees or power lines that could fall.
During a Flood
Turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve. Shut off the electricity. If the area around the fuse box or circuit breaker is wet, stand on a dry board and shut off the power with a dry stick. Never try to cross a flooded area on foot. The fast water could sweep you away.
Try not to drive through flood waters. Fast water could sweep your car away. However, if you are caught in fast-rising waters and your car stalls, leave it, and save yourself and your passengers.
During a Winter Power Failure
Turn the thermostat(s) down to minimum and turn off all appliances, electronic equipment and tools to prevent injury, damage to the equipment and fire. Power can also be restored more easily when the system is not overloaded.
Use proper candle holders. Never leave lit candles unattended.
Don’t use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment or home generators indoors.
Home generators are handy for backup electricity in case of an outage, but there are hazards to be aware of.
To operate a generator safely, follow the manufacturers instructions, and always:
Direct installation of a generator to an existing electrical system should only be done by a qualified technician.
This information is a synthesis of various sources. For more disaster preparedness information visit the Public Safety Canada Website.
Get Prepared - Grey Bruce Emergency Preparedness Information
June 19, 2007
We have found an absolutely amazing site that offers coverage of the Grey County Emergency Management plan. The site contains a section entitled, “Emergency Preparedness Begins at Home!” which includes a streamed instructional video on how to prepare an emergency kit. It is very user friendly and comprehensive. Emergency numbers for all of Grey County, including the Kid’s Help Line and the Crisis Intervention Team are available at the click of a button. If you are looking for detailed information on the topic, this site has a lot to offer.
If after checking out this very effective site you STILL have any questions, you can direct them to:
Marlene McLevy
Grey County Community Emergency Management Coordinator
595 9 th Ave East
Owen Sound , ON N4K 3A3
Phone: 519-376-7337; ext. 245 Fax: 519-376-0967
“But what about the Bruce?”, you may ask. Well, sadly this friendly correspondent must say that the Bruce County Emergency Preparedness site pales in comparison. While there are documents available for downloading on the Emergency Management page of the site, we went to the Emergency Preparedness page and found it dismally and utterly empty.

For more information, or to offer the Bruce County Community Emergency Measures Coordinator a gentle nudge, here is his contact.
Doug Smith
Community Emergency Measures Coordinator
Phone: (519) 881-1291
Fax: (519) 881-1619
bccssmith@brucecounty.on.ca
If you readers have any thoughts on this issue please make use of our comment link below!
Be Prepared- Plan for Emergencies
June 19, 2007

In your day-to-day living, disasters may seem a distant possibility. Yet natural disasters such as floods or tornadoes, technological or environmental accidents such as chemical spills, or service disruptions such as power failures at any time during the winter can strike any community, including yours.
If you’re unprepared for a disaster, it can shatter your life.
Expect the unexpected and plan for it. Knowing what to do when a disaster strikes will help you better control the situation and be in a better position to recover more quickly.
No community is equipped to handle all the demands of a catastrophe. Help your community by preparing yourself.
Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do before, during and after an emergency.
Set up a family meeting this week to discuss how you can best prepare for an emergency. Have your own plan.
Know What to do Before a Disaster Strikes
Will your whole family think clearly and logically in a crisis? Not many of us can. So do your clear, logical thinking now- when you have the time to be thorough.
Prepare Now
Know the risks. Know your region.
Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to your region can help you prepare yourself better. Across Canada we face a number of hazards, from earthquakes in British Columbia, to blizzards in Nunavut, to hurricanes in New Brunswick. In addition to natural disasters there are other types of risks, such as blackouts, industrial or transportation accidents, and the possibility of acts of terrorism on Canadian soil. We need to prepare for all types of emergencies.
The following list contains natural risks and other hazards. Consider the risks that are most likely in your community.
Look at Your Own Situation
Hazard-Proof Your Home
Anticipate what could go wrong in your home and take corrective action. If you live in an earthquake zone, move or secure objects that could fall and injure you: books, plants, mirrors, lamps, china. Secure objects that could tip and start a fire: water heater, gas appliances.
If you live in a tornado zone, secure anything that might be blown around or torn loose, both indoors and outdoors.
If you live in a flood-prone area, remove all chemical products from the basement. Move irreplaceable belongings to upper floors.
You can install a non-electric, standby heating unit that is not dependent on a motor, fan, or any other electrical device to function. Vent the stove or heater adequately with the type of chimney flue specified for it. Never connect two heating units to the same chimney flue at the same time.
Post Emergency Numbers
Keep a list of key emergency numbers and addresses near the phone. (If there’s been a major disaster, use the phone only if it’s absolutely necessary. Emergency crews will need all available lines.) Include in your list the following:
Check Your Insurance
Make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for the range of risks in your community.
Make an Emergency Preparedness Plan
Every Canadian household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency.
Consider these factors when making your plan:
Escape Routes
Plan emergency exits from each room of your home. Try to think of two possibilities for each room. If you live in an apartment, do not plan to use the elevators. Also, identify an escape route from your neighbourhood in case you are ordered to evacuate.
Meeting Places
Identify a safe place where everyone should meet if they have to leave home during an emergency.
Children
People With Special Health Needs
Personalize your Emergency Kit
Aim to have an emergency survival kit that will keep you and your family self-sufficient in your home for at least three days. If you’ve got a flashlight, a battery-operated or crank radio, food, water and blankets, you already have part of an emergency survival kit. All you have to do is assemble the supplies in an easy-to-carry container (in case you have to evacuate).
Some other items you should consider for your emergency kit are:
Keep a smaller survival kit in your car. A blanket, extra clothing, a candle in a deep can, and matches can save your life.
Have a Show & Tell
If you live in a house, teach members of your family where and how to shut off the water, electricity and gas supply. Make big, easy-to-see signs saying “Breaker Panel”, “Gas” and “Main Water Supply”. Put these signs near the breaker panel, gas valve and main water valve.
If you live in an apartment, show everyone in your family where the emergency exit is. Show them where the fire alarm is, and explain when and how to use it. In a fire or other emergency, don’t use the elevators. You’ll be trapped in the elevator if the power goes out.
Avoid Potential Emergency Situations
Heed weather warnings, and avoid driving and other activities in hazardous weather conditions.
This information is a synthesis of various sources. For more disaster preparedness information visit the Public Safety Canada Website.







