EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS WEEK URGES FAMILIES TO BE PREPARED

Saskatchewan Corrections and Public Safety joins jurisdictions across Canada in promoting Emergency Preparedness Week, May 6 to 12.  This year’s theme is “72 hours…Is your family prepared?”

“The theme recognizes that in a disaster affecting an entire community, some services we take for granted might be unavailable for several days,” Corrections and Public Safety Minister Warren McCall said.  “Families should be prepared to take care of themselves for a minimum of 72 hours, and knowing what to pack in an emergency kit can help.”

In partnership with the federal government and other provinces and territories, resources to help families and individuals develop their own emergency plans have been distributed to some 1,500 key community responders in Saskatchewan.  These materials include a poster and a brochure that lists the items necessary for a complete 72-hour emergency kit.

“Severe weather, including forest fires, floods and other natural disasters can have a serious and tragic impact on anyone,” McCall said.  “By ensuring that families know how to keep themselves safe in these kinds of situations, this government is helping make Saskatchewan a better place to live.”

Corrections and Public Safety is the provincial government department responsible for the provincial plan on emergency preparedness.  It supports and works with municipalities to develop their own emergency preparedness plans and leads the provincial response when disasters threaten Saskatchewan communities.

More information about effective emergency planning is available on the Emergency Preparedness Week web site at www.EPweek.ca.

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For more information, contact:

Judy Orthner
Corrections & Public Safety
Regina
Phone: 306-787-5883
Email: jorthner@cps.gov.sk.ca
Cell: 306-535-2233