Just four years after the high winds and rain of Hurricane Juan swept through Prince Edward Island, Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram is reminding Islanders of the importance of being prepared for an emergency.
“As the Minister responsible for the provincial Office of Public Safety, I want to encourage Islanders to take this time to prepare for hurricane season,” says Minister Bertram. “In the event of an extreme weather incident like a hurricane, preparation will be key in keeping you and your family safe and comfortable.”
The Minister was reinforcing a warning earlier this month from Peter Bowyer of the Canadian Hurricane Centre, who said this year’s forecasts suggest a worse than average hurricane season for the Maritime provinces.
BACKGROUNDER
In early May 2007, the provincial Office of Public Safety, partnered with Public Safety Canada, the PEI Chapter of the Canadian Red Cross, Environment Canada and Maritime Electric to present Emergency Preparedness Week.
The 2007 Emergency Preparedness Guide was delivered to more than 66,000 homes in Prince Edward Island.
Tips to prepare for an emergency:
Risks: Risks in our region include disease outbreak, pandemic, drought, storm, hurricane, tsunami or storm surge, flood, fire, hazardous spills, terrorism.
Be Aware: Keep up to date. Listen to the radio for emergency notifications and information from local officials and follow their instructions.
Water: Two litres of water per person per day is the recommended amount to have on hand in case of emergency.
Cash: ATMs and their networks may not work during an emergency or blackout. Credit cards and debit cards may not work. You should have cash available.
Be prepared: Don’t wait for an emergency to happen. You should be prepared to care for yourself and your family for at least the first three days – 72 hours – in an emergency.
Create your own emergency kit (check lists in the 72 Hour Guide which was distributed to Island households with the phone book in May), or purchase one from the Canadian Red Cross or at some retail outlets.
72 Hours: If you don’t have your copy of the 72 Hour Guide, you can download it at www.peiemo.ca, or call 902-888-8050 and 902-894-0385 for a free copy.
The 72 Hour Guide is printed back to back in English and French. It can also be made available, upon request, in Chinese Traditional character, Chinese Simple character, Punjabi and Inuktitut.
For more information, contact PEI Emergency Measures at 902-888-8050 and 902-894-0385 or www.peiemo.ca