Emergency Preparedness Week takes place in Manitoba from May 5-11, and this year’s theme is “Be prepared. Know your risks.”
In line with that theme, the Altona and Rhineland Emergency Management team will be engaged in their own efforts to ensure the public is prepared for the unexpected.
The Town of Altona will be testing their outdoor emergency warning siren on Monday, May 6 at noon. The siren will sound for four minutes and an emergency alert message will be sent to all those registered with the Altona CONNECT system via phone call, email, and text.
Altona Municipal Emergency coordinator Perry Batchelor says most people in the community are already aware that the town has an outdoor warning siren that sounds every lunch hour for a short time to make sure it’s working.
“That’s why we do the annual test, as well,” he notes.
The emergency management team will also be hosting an Emergency Preparedness Expo on Thursday, May 9, starting at 6 p.m. at the Millennium Exhibition Centre.
The family-friendly event will give residents the opportunity to learn more about staying safe during an emergency, as well as the opportunity to see some of the community’s emergency equipment up close.
Represented at the expo will be demonstrations and information booths hosted by the RCMP, Red Cross, Public Works, Altona Police Service, Altona and Plum Coulee fire departments and EMO, as well as the Hutterite Emergency Aquatic Response Team (HEART).
“Some of the RCMP search and rescue members will be there as well, along with their armoured emergency response vehicle. Their tactical vehicle will be there, and their canines,” Batchelor says. “It’s a hands-on event, with kids trying on safety wear, and can be used as a fun family event, where you can talk to your family about safety.”
He noted that last year’s expo was well-received.
“We drew a good crowd, and we’re hoping to do the same this year. It’s a great opportunity to see the equipment used by local emergency teams and to talk to them about what they do to keep the community safe.”
Batchelor encourages all residents to consider whether they’re prepared to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of an emergency or disaster.
“I just think people need to understand the first 72 hours in a disaster is something they have to be prepared to look after themselves,” he said. “The biggest question going into Emergency Preparedness Week that you should answer is, are you prepared? You can well imagine if we had a significant event, all of our resources are going to be stretched to the max, and it’s important people have things like 72-hour kits.”
An example of what a 72-hour kit should look like will be on display at the expo.
Batchelor also wants to remind residents to sign up for Altona Connect.
“Its on the town website. It’s free and a great way to get direct information from the town office.”
He notes it’s also important for the public to attend events like the Emergency Preparedness Expo.
“It’s an opportunity to see the resources that we can draw on in an emergency, and an opportunity to educate yourselves on what to do in an emergency. Make sure you have everything from canned food, to water, to a battery-operated radio, and perhaps a generator for your house. You don’t know how long the power can be out if that was the case.”
He adds that we often take our services for granted.
“We get significant winds blowing through here that can take out power.”
