Emergency Management Preparedness

72 Hours: Is Your Family Prepared?

If an emergency happens within the Township of Pelee, it may take emergency workers time to reach you. You should always be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

You may have some of the items already, such as food, water and a battery-operated or crank flashlight. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark?

Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in the household knows where it is. Keep it in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front-hall closet. If you have many people in your household, your emergency kit could get heavy. It’s a good idea to separate some of these supplies in backpacks. That way, your kit will be more portable and each person can personalize his or her own grab-and-go emergency kit.

Basic emergency kit

Water – at least two litres of water per person per day; include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order
Food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (replace food and water once a year)
Manual can-opener
Crank or battery-powered flashlight (and extra batteries). Replace batteries once a year.
Crank, battery-powered radio (and extra batteries) or Weatheradio
First aid kit
Extra keys to your car and house
Some cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills and change for payphones
A copy of your emergency plan and contact information
If applicable, other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, or food, water and medication for your pets or service animal (personalize according to your needs)

Recommended additional items

Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning
Candles and matches or lighter (place candles in deep, sturdy containers and do not burn unattended)
Change of clothing and footwear for each household member
Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each household member
Toiletries
Hand sanitizer
Utensils
Garbage bags
Toilet paper
Water purifying tablets
Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, work gloves, dust mask, pocket knife)
A whistle (in case you need to attract attention)
Duct tape (to tape up windows, doors, air vents, etc.)

For more information visit: Your Emergency Preparedness Guide

Household Emergency Plan

Every household should an emergency plan whether it be your cottage, or primary residence. It will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency. It will take you about 20 minutes to make your general plan.

Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.

Keep this document in an easy-to-find, easy-to-remember place (for example, with your emergency kit). Photocopy this plan and keep it in your car and/or at work, and a copy close to your phone. If you completed your plan online, keep an electronic version on your computer.

For more information and tips on how to create a household emergency plan visit: Your Emergency Preparedness Guide

Floods

Make A Plan:

In an emergency, your family may not be together, or you may be asked to evacuate your home. Thinking about what you would do in different situations and preparing a plan with every member of your family is the first step to being prepared.

Visit the Get Prepared and the Emergency Management Ontario websites for more information.

Flood Precautions

If you feel unsafe, do not wait to evacuate. If you are instructed by emergency officials to evacuate, do so immediately.

In any flooding or potential flooding event, the following actions should be taken:

Protecting your home

Elevate the furnace, water heater, and electric panel if susceptible to flooding.
Install check valves in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into your home.
Seal walls in basements with waterproofing compounds to avoid seepage.
Keep an adequate supply of food, candles and drinking water in case you are trapped inside your home.

When a flood is imminent:

Listen to designated radio/TV emergency alert systems for emergency instructions.
Secure/bring in outdoor furniture or other items that might float away and become a potential hazard.
Move valuable items and papers/documents to upper floors.

During a flood:

Seek higher ground. Do not wait for instructions.
Be aware of flash flood areas such as canals and drainage channels.
Be ready to evacuate.
If instructed, turn off utilities at main switches and unplug appliances – do not touch electrical equipment if wet.
If you must leave your home, do not walk through moving water. Six inches of moving water can knock you off your feet. Use a stick to test depth.
Do not try to drive over a flooded road. If your car stalls, abandon it immediately and seek an alternate route.

After a flood:

Stay away from flood water – do not attempt to swim, walk or drive through the area.
Be aware of areas where water has receded. Roadways may have weakened and could collapse.
Avoid downed power lines and muddy waters where power lines may have fallen.
Do not drink tap water until advised by the Health Unit that the water is safe to drink.
Once flood waters have receded you must not live in your home until the water supply has been declared safe for use, all flood-contaminated rooms have been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, adequate toilet facilities are available, all electrical appliances and heating/cooling systems have been inspected, food, utensils and dishes have been examined, cleaned or disposed of, and floor drains and sumps have been cleaned and disinfected.

The Municipality annually meets the requirements of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act. A copy of the official Municipal Emergency Response Plan, may be obtained by request.

For more information regarding emergency preparedness, please visit the County of Essex Emergency Management website.

Thunderstorms

Storms develop quickly and can occur with little to no warning. Heavy winds and lightning caused by storms can cause extended power outages, uprooted trees, landslides, and downed or broken utility lines. Furthermore, heavy rains can cause flash floods.

During the storm:

Keep an eye on the sky. At the first sign of severe weather (darkening skies, lightening, increased wind), tune in to radio or TV for the latest weather information.
Avoid handling metal, electrical equipment, telephones, bathtubs, water faucets and sinks, because electric current from lightening can travel through wires and pipes.
If you are outside, take cover in a stable facility.

Avoid the following:

Natural lightning rods such as a tall, isolated tree in an open area
Isolated sheds or other small structures in open areas
Anything metal (tractors, farm equipment, motorcycles, golf carts, golf clubs, and bicycles
Observe the 30/30 lightning safety rule: Go indoors if, after seeing lightning, you cannot count to 30 before hearing thunder. Stay indoors for 30 minutes after hearing the last clap of thunder.
Avoid walking through water that has seeped in your home – it may contain hazardous materials.
If you are asked to evacuate your home, disconnect all electrical appliances.

After the storm:

Assess your immediate environment.
Report fallen trees, flooded streets or damaged public utilities to proper department.
Stay tuned to local weather stations for updated information.

Tornadoes

The most violent tornadoes are capable of tremendous destruction with wind speeds of 400 kilometers per hour or more. Damage paths can be in excess of a kilometer wide and 80 kilometers long. When a tornado is coming, you only have a short amount of time to make decisions, so be prepared.

What Should I Do Before a Tornado?

Make sure that you review your Family Emergency Plan with your family and that everyone knows what they should do.
Make sure that your Emergency Survival Kit is fully stocked and that your family knows where it is. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for several days, in the event of widespread power outages or disruption of public utilities.
Establish a safe zone in your home and place of work (preferably in the basement or in a small interior room or hallway) and make sure that everyone knows where to go.
Have an AM/FM Radio in your house that everyone knows how to use. Make sure that your radio is battery-operable and that you have a fresh supply of batteries on hand.
Monitor weather forecasts before you go on a trip or spend an extended period of time outdoors.

Learn tornado warning signs. Although tornadoes vary greatly in their appearance and can offer little or no warning, it can be helpful to be aware of signs that a tornado could be imminent:

A dark, often greenish sky.
A wall cloud, particularly if it is rotating.
Large hail. Although not always, storms that produce tornadoes frequently produce large hail as well.
A loud roar, similar to the sound of a freight train.
Tornadoes may occur near the trailing edge of a thunderstorm and be quite visible. They may also be embedded in rain and not be visible at all.

What Should I Do During a Tornado Watch?

Listen to your local radio or television stations for updated information.
Be alert to rapidly-changing weather conditions. Watch for signs of a possible tornado.
Know where your family members are. Use this opportunity to review your Family Emergency Plan. Even if a tornado does not strike, there is still a likelihood of severe weather conditions.
During a Tornado
Listen to your local radio or television stations for updated information. If the electricity should go out, you will still be able to receive emergency information on a battery-operated device.
If you’re at home, go to your pre-identified safe zone to protect yourself from glass and other flying objects. If possible, seek shelter under a piece of large, sturdy furniture, such as a large table or workbench to protect yourself from falling debris or flying objects. Stay away from windows. Do NOT open them.
If a basement is not available, move to a small interior room or hallway on the lowest floor and get under a sturdy piece of furniture. Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside.
Do not open windows: use the time to seek shelter.
Use arms to protect head and neck.
Remain in your safe zone or shelter until you have received an all-clear signal from your radio.
If you’re not in your home, seek shelter in the basement or an interior room of a nearby, sturdy building. Do not try to outrun a tornado in your car; instead, leave it immediately. If no shelter is available, lie flat in a low spot with your arms and hands protecting your head. Contrary to popular belief, seeking shelter underneath a highway or railroad overpass does not provide any measurable safety.
Be aware of flying debris, as it causes the most injuries and fatalities during a tornado.
Mobile homes offer little protection from tornadoes. You should leave a mobile home and go to the lowest floor of a sturdy nearby building or storm shelter.

What Should I Do After a Tornado?

Continue listening to your local radio or television stations for updated information.
Review your Family Emergency Plan and follow through with your communications plan. If all of your family members are not present, report to your families pre-designated meeting point, unless emergency officials direct otherwise.
Assess any damage to your home or immediate surroundings. Be aware of any potential hazards (ruptured gas lines, structural damage to your home, downed electrical lines, localized flooding, etc.) Immediately report any injuries or hazards via 911. Advise your family and neighbors as well.
Help injured or trapped persons. Call 911. Give first aid where appropriate. Do not move seriously injured persons unless they are in immediate danger. Never enter any building that appears to have suffered significant structural damage, or that poses any other hazards.
Do not enter any disaster area. Your presence there will simply add to the confusion and may hamper emergency response efforts. A public message will be sent in the event that volunteers are needed.
Only use the telephone for emergency calls. Once you have notified your pre-identified emergency contact person that you are okay, let them notify other family or loved ones. Telephones are frequently overwhelmed in a disaster situation and need to be clear for emergency calls to get through.

Winter Storms

Winter storms can be treacherous and damaging if you are unprepared. They can disrupt power supply and transportation and create home and personal safety issues.

Winter storm tips:

Make sure your emergency survival kit is stocked and winter storm ready.
Have a week’s supply of food on-hand.
Eat regularly and drink ample fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.
Keep a water supply. Extreme cold can cause water pipes in your home to freeze and sometimes break. In case this happens, make sure you have bottled water on hand.
Listen to radio or television for weather reports and emergency information.
Buy rock salt to melt ice on walkways and sand to improve traction.
Make sure you have sufficient heating fuel. Regular fuel sources may be cut off.
Keep emergency heating equipment and fuel (a gas fireplace, wood burning stove, kerosene heater, or fireplace) so you can keep at least one room of your house warm enough to be livable.
If you have a fireplace, store a supply of firewood.
Keep fire extinguishers on hand, and make sure your family knows how to use them.
Winterize your home to extend the life of your fuel supply. Insulate walls and attics; caulk and weather strip doors and windows. Install storm windows or cover windows with plastic.
Do not overexert yourself or work outside for extended periods of time.
Limit time outside. When outside, watch for signs of frostbite (loss of feeling and white or pale appearance in extremities) and hypothermia (uncontrollable shivering, memory loss, disorientation, incoherence, slurred speech, drowsiness, and apparent exhaustion). If you detect signs of hypothermia in somebody, get the victim to a warm location, remove wet clothing, warm the center of the body first, and give the person warm, non-alcoholic beverages. If either frostbite or hypothermia are identified, get medical help as soon as possible.

Extreme Cold

Extreme cold events occur when winter temperatures drop significantly below average for that time of the year. Exposure to cold temperatures, whether indoors or outside, can cause other serious or life-threatening health problems. To keep yourself and your family safe, you should know how to prevent cold-related health problems and what to do if a cold-weather health emergency arises.

During the colder months of the year, the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit issues Extreme Cold Advisories when winter temperatures become dangerous. Advisories will be posted along with precautionary information at the Health Unit Website.

Extreme Cold Safety Tips:

Wear several layers of loose fitting, lightweight, warm clothing rather than one layer of heavy clothing
Wear mittens instead of gloves
Wear water-repellent clothing
Cover your mouth with a scarf to protect your lungs
Wear a hat
Make sure small children, infants and the elderly stay warm. They are much more vulnerable to the cold weather.
Avoid drinking alcoholic beverages
Where possible, try and keep one room in your home heated to 21 degrees Celsius (70 Fahrenheit).
Eat high energy foods and drink warm beverages.
Beware of over-exertion; shoveling snow or pushing disabled cars can be very demanding, and should only be done by individuals in good health.

Extreme Heat

Hot weather is uncomfortable but usually does not result in heat related illness, while periods of extreme heat are proven to affect the health of residents. Humidex readings below 40° C can cause discomfort but do not usually result in heat related illnesses. When conditions exceed this, an Extreme Heat Alert may be declared by the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit.

In extreme heat:

Stay out of the sun. If you must be in the sun, wear sunscreen (at least SPF 15).
Avoid overexertion and strenuous outdoor activities.
Wear lightweight, light-colored, loose-fitting clothes that cover as much skin as possible to prevent sunburn.
Consume plenty of non-alcoholic, non-caffeinated fluids. Water, diluted juices and electrolyte solutions are best. Stay away from carbonated drinks.
Avoid alcohol.
If you are on a fluid-restricted diet or taking diuretics, consult your doctor.
Stay in the shade or under awnings as much as possible.
Keep rooms well ventilated with air conditioners and/or fans. Keep your windows open if you don’t have a fan or air conditioning.
Cool down with periodic cool baths or showers.
Take advantage of air-conditioned city recreation facilities, public pools and air-conditioned stores and malls.
Never leave children, the elderly, or those who require special care during periods of intense summer heat.
Make a special effort to check on your neighbors during a heat wave, especially if they are seniors, young children, and people with special needs or living alone.
Seniors and others who may be sensitive to extreme heat should contact friends, neighbors, or relatives periodically throughout the day.
Seek help if you feel symptoms of heat-related illnesses.

Nuclear Incident

People who live or work within 10 km of a nuclear reactor facility should do the following if there’s an accident:

Go inside and turn on your radio, TV or computer.
Listen to media for instructions from the provincial government.
Follow the directions provided by the provincial government.

Have your potassium iodide (KI) pills nearby:

One way to protect yourself from radioactive iodine is to take a KI pill.
KI is only to be taken when instructed to do so by provincial authorities.
Further information on KI is available from the Ministry of Health: Potassium Iodide Tablets (KI) Fact Sheet.

Evacuation

Normally people are evacuated from an area well before radiation is released into the atmosphere – so radioactive contamination is very unlikely.

If there is a concern, you may be asked to:

stay indoors
close all windows and doors
turn off heating or air conditioning to avoid bringing potentially contaminated air indoors
be ready to leave your home if the situation changes