Are you ready for an emergency? Emergency Preparedness Week runs May 6-12, a reminder of the need for us to prepare for the unexpected.

Planning and preparing for negative events can significantly reduce the impact to you and your loved ones. The Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) has resources to assist your family:

• Alberta Ready online course designed to help you and your family prepare and plan
  

• 72-hour emergency kit checklist

• Grab-and-go kit checklist in case of evacuation

• vehicle emergency kit checklist to keep you and your family safe if you have a vehicle

• Pet emergency kit checklist to keep your pets safe until emergency responders can reach you or if you have to evacuate your home

#PrepareYourSelfie challenge

The #PrepareYourSelfie challenge encourages Albertans to prepare their emergency kits and post their photos on social media using the hashtag #PrepareYourSelfie.

New wireless public alerting system

As of April 6, 2018, Canadians receive life-saving emergency alerts to cellphones and wireless devices that are compatible with wireless public alerts.

The Alert Ready system is developed in partnership with federal, provincial and territorial emergency management officials, Environment and Climate Change Canada, The Weather Network, and the broadcasting industry and wireless service providers, to ensure you receive alerts immediately and know when to take action to keep yourself and your family safe.

“As we approach the unofficial hazard season, severe weather events can happen,” says Craig Smith, Emergency Management Officer with Covenant Health. “These could include events such as spring run-off, flood, wildfire, and stream flow advisories, which all become potential threats.”

Check your phone’s compatibility to see whether your device will receive alerts.

A test of the system will take place on May 9 at 1:55 p.m. MDT for television, radio and compatible wireless devices.

Information on events happening across the province during Emergency Preparedness Week is available through AEMA.