Durham Region is urging residents to get prepared as Emergency Preparedness Week kicks off Saturday, May 3 and runs through Friday, May 9.
The annual national awareness campaign encourages Canadians to take concrete steps to protect themselves, their families and their properties in the event of an emergency. This year, Durham Region is placing a special focus on helping residents understand the specific risks they face living near nuclear generating stations.
The Region has published detailed Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Guides that provide customized information for people who live or work within three kilometres, ten kilometres, or more from a nuclear facility in Durham. The guides cover evacuation procedures, sheltering instructions, emergency contacts and what to pack in an emergency kit.
Durham Region is home to the Darlington and Pickering nuclear generating stations, both operated by Ontario Power Generation and located within Durham Region boundaries. While the facilities maintain rigorous safety standards, the Region says it is important for all nearby residents and businesses to know exactly what to do in the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency, the Region says in its preparedness materials.
Beyond nuclear preparedness, the Region is also encouraging residents to prepare for more common emergencies such as severe weather events, power outages, flooding and winter storms. Building an emergency kit with water, non-perishable food, medications, flashlights and important documents is one of the simplest and most effective steps a household can take.
Emergency Preparedness Week is held nationally during the first full week of May each year. It is coordinated by Public Safety Canada in collaboration with federal, provincial and territorial governments and local municipalities. The goal is to build a culture of preparedness so that when disasters strike, communities are ready to respond and recover quickly.
Durham Region will be sharing tips and resources on social media throughout the week and is asking residents to share how they are prepared using the hashtag prepared. The Region says even small steps like creating a family emergency plan, signing up for local alerts and knowing your evacuation routes and keeping your emergency supplies stocked and up to date can make a big difference when seconds count.
Residents can access all the Emergency Preparedness Week resources including the Nuclear Emergency Preparedness Guides at durham.ca/prepared. The website also includes checklists for emergency kits, family communication plans and tips for specific hazards common to the Durham area, including flooding along Lake Ontario shoreline communities.
Whether it is a nuclear event, a severe ice storm or a prolonged power outage, being prepared means being able to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours without outside help before emergency services can reach you. That 72-hour window is critical, and Emergency Preparedness Week is the perfect time to make sure your household is ready for anything.
Durham Region encourages everyone to take a few minutes this week to visit durham.ca/prepared and start building their emergency plan today. It could be the most important thing you do all year.
