Emergency Preparedness Week

Emergency Preparedness Week takes place the first full week of May and helps Canadians take the steps to protect themselves and their families during emergencies.

Alberta’s Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu released this statement for Emergency Preparedness Week, including its correlation with the COVID-19 pandemic:

“Emergencies take many forms. Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact our day-to-day lives. That’s why planning ahead and being prepared is critically important.

“Emergency Preparedness Week runs May 3 to 9 this year. It is an annual hands-on learning opportunity for community leaders, first responders, all levels of government and non-government organizations. We respond together to mock emergencies and disasters to refine and improve our responses for when real emergencies occur.

“Thanks to emergency preparedness exercises and pandemic planning in years past, our province was ready to address the COVID-19 outbreak when it first arrived in our province. And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst. We will continue to work with all of our partners to ensure the safety of Albertans.

“Emergency preparedness is as important for families and individuals as it is for the province as a whole. This week is a perfect opportunity for Albertans to take concrete actions to be better prepared to protect themselves and their families during emergencies.

“Being prepared does more than help reduce fear and loss. It also increases peace of mind for you and your family, which is critically important to us all.”