May 5 to 11, 2024 is Emergency Preparedness Week

Read the media release

We all play an important part in keeping our families and businesses safe. When we are prepared as individuals, together we all make our community safer and better prepared. Take the time this week to make or check your emergency preparedness plan and kit. Be prepared for anything.

The Community Safety Educators will be out during this week helping to spread the word! 

• May 8th - Community Centre, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
  401 Festival Lane, outside the Strathcona County Library
• May 8th - Sherwood Park Farmers' Market, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
  Emerald Hill Shopping Centre located at #350 5000 Emerald Drive   

Sign up for a free class on personal preparedness where you will learn how to create your own kit and things you can do to prepare for disaster. There is also a tour of our Emergency Operations Centre!

• May 9, Community Centre, 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
  Register today, spots are limited

Ideas for the week

Monday

Emergencies are stressful for children. Help your child/children to be better prepared by writing your family emergency plan today. Practice your emergency plan regularly and talk to your children about why you’re doing it. Involve your children in writing the emergency plan and in making a 72-hour emergency kit. This will help them better cope when an emergency happens.  

If you have children between 8 and 12 years old and are considering leaving them at home alone, have them sign up for a free At Home Alone class.

Tuesday

For many emergencies, there is very little time to react. Download your copy of the Strathcona County Emergency Preparedness Guide to get prepared today for the unexpected! 

Wednesday

The best place for a pet is with their owner. However, you should make a plan for your pet’s care if you were to become ill or require hospitalization. 

Do not let your pet fend for itself in an emergency situation. Remember to include them when assembling your emergency kit in advance. Do you have horses and other livestock? Make sure to have a plan for them as well.

Thursday

Heading to the grocery store this week? Update your emergency kit by adding extra food and water to your grocery list. Don’t forget your pets! Everyone needs to be self-sufficient for at least 72-hours (three days). Building your 72-hour emergency kit for each person in your home, including your pets, is the first step in protecting your family.  

Friday

How will you reconnect with each other? Where will you meet? What if your neighbourhood is being evacuated? It's important to make a plan now so that you will know what to do, how to find each other, and how to communicate in an emergency. 

Saturday

When there are potentially life-threatening emergencies, Strathcona County will use Alberta Emergency Alerts. These notifications are broadcast over TV, radio, road signs and compatible cell phone and wireless devices. You do not need to sign up for these alerts and you cannot opt out. Only life-threatening alerts such as evacuations or shelter-in-place are sent over text, TV, signs and radio.

All updates to those alerts and other non-critical alerts are posted in the app (for example, notifying residents an evacuation is over and they may return home). Download the Alberta Emergency Alert app and follow Strathcona County, and stay updated on local notices including fire bans and restrictions by the downloading SC Alert app. 

Sunday

Learning lifesaving skills like CPR/AED is an important part of responding to emergencies. Cardiac arrest can happen without any warning, at any age, at any time, to people of all fitness levels. Sign up for a free CardiacCrash class.You will learn how to save a life in about an hour!