Heartland 101

Each year, the first full week in May is Emergency Preparedness Week in Canada. It is an opportunity to raise awareness among Canadians about risks they may face and how to prepare for them. Risks in Alberta include fire, flood, severe storms, drought, hazardous material release, terrorism, and epidemic.

Preparing for these risks in advance supports an effective response for you and your family. In many cases, this means being able to look after immediate household needs for a minimum of 72 hours, and up to a week. Considerations include food, water and essentials specific to your needs, including medications, and planning for the well-being of pets and livestock in an emergency.

The province of Alberta offers free online resources that have been translated into 10 languages to help residents prepare.

In the Alberta Industrial Heartland region, a resident survey conducted in 2024 shows:

     • 85% are somewhat or very prepared to look after their household needs for 72 hours

     • 58% are prepared to evacuate with a kit of essentials

     • 56% are aware of the Shelter in Place safety action

Another key element of being prepared is knowing where to go for reliable information in an emergency. Top emergency information sources for residents in our region include local media, their local municipality, alert systems and apps, and social media.

Taking steps to be prepared for emergencies is everyone’s responsibility, and the more individuals prepare, the more it improves the overall response and ability to recover quickly. Start today by:

     • Learning about available community supports

     • Know where to seek information in your community

     • Start a conversation with family and friends

     • Set aside an emergency fund

     • Protect your home through programs such as FireSmart, and have adequate insurance

     • Make a plan

     • Gather supplies and build a kit