The GNWT is promoting Emergency Preparedness Week, and are encouraging residents to make sure they have a plan in place to keep themselves safe.
Emergency Preparedness Week is an event that is recognized across the country, supported by Public Safety Canada, which works alongside provincial and territorial governments to put together activities and events at the local level to help keep people informed and safe about the potential situations that could occur in their area. The event takes place every year in the first full week of May. This year, it is running from May 5th to the 11th.
This year, the theme is “Be Prepared. Know Your Risks.” The idea is to make sure that Canadians know the specific risks that exist in their areas, and to learn what they can do to protect themselves and their families.
In the North, some of the most common situations that can occur are wildfires, floods, power outages, and infrastructure failures. As we head into the spring and summer months, much attention in the North is focused on wildfires, and how to prevent the same situation that occurred last year.
For individuals and families, the best advice is to make sure that their residence is FireSmart, which involves taking a few simple steps towards making sure fires stay away.
One of the main pieces of advice for homeowners is to try and keep any highly flammable vegetaion to a minimum in the immediate ten metres around the home. Some plants to keep an eye out for include cedar, juniper, pine, tall grass, and spruce. Even mowing the lawn can be considered FireSmarting. Additionally, burn barrels and piles of firewood should not be kept close to the home.
Families are also encouraged to come up with their own emergency plan, and to learn the emergency plan of their community.
Much more information can be found on the GNWT website by clicking here.
