Emergency Preparedness

Message from Rich VE3DCC, Past President ERC:

Hello, as I indicated at the October ERC meeting during our ad hoc discussion on emergency planning, I am forwarding documents that we generated wayyyy back in 2014 and 2016 during my tenure as president.  Included are:

  • Draft plan: outlining how we visioned our role in the township plan
  • 2014 council report on the SET that we conducted
  • Multi-County memo with suggestions on how we could be part of a mult-club response
  • 2016 Council presentation summary of our presentation to council regarding the role of ham radio in Woolwich.

Note that the township official document has changed so page references are no longer valid, however, our calls are still on file. Many of those on that list are no longer with us.

Please review this information in preparation for discussions at our November meeting so the ad hoc committee can move quickly to formulate our current status.

Rich VE3DCC

Attachments: Draft Plan | 2014 Council Report | MemoMultiCounty | 2016 Council Presentation


Local Emergency Preparedness

It is always good to be prepared for possible disaster such as fire, floods, earth quakes and environmental accidents. The below information might help you preparing.

Township of Woolwich
24 Church Street West,
P.O. Box 158,
Elmira, ON N3B 2Z6
Phone: 519-669-1647

Elmira Police Department
Division 3A- Serving Woolwich and Wellesley Townships
13 Industrial Drive,
Elmira, Ontario N3B 2S1
Phone: 519-650-8500 Ext 6320 and 6319
Operator: 519-653-7700 and ask for the above extensions

Elmira Fire Department
44 Howard Avenue
Elmira, Ontario
Phone: 519-669-5036

Red Cross (Kitchener)
1418 Weber Street East
Kitchener, Ontario N2A 1C4
Phone: 519-742-2785

Salvation Army
Divisional Headquarters
Major Patricia Phinney
Divisional Secretary for Public Relations and Development
371 King St
London ON N6B 1S4
Phone: 519-433-6106

Recommendations For Disaster Preparedness Kit

When preparing a disaster preparedness kit, first plan for the essentials for survival. Think practical first, and think comfortable second. All essential needs should be able to fit in a 5 gallon bucket. Absolute necessities include food, water, and warmth.

Food

Foodstuffs should be high energy non-perishables and kept in sealed air-tight containers. Made-ready meals and canned goods are excellent choices for emergency food sources. It is safe to ration, the body can be maintained on half of your average caloric intake during an emergency. Provisions should include enough food supplies to last five to seven days for each family member.

Water

Water stored for drinking purposes should also be a supply suffient to last three days for each family member. Electrolyte-enhanced water and vitamins help to replace electrolytes and the fluids lost, in order to prevent dehydration and seizures. Consider having an equal amount of water handy on the side for sanitation purposes. Stored food and water should be cycled out every six months.

Warmth

The body can only subsist in a short range of temperatures. Keep warm in cold temperatures to prevent illness and hypothermia. Critical areas to keep dry and warm are the head, neck, chest, feet, and groin. Athletic clothing offers moderate environmental insulation without giving up the benefits of being easily attainable, affordable, lightweight, portable, and breathable. Mylar is an excellent lightweight and portable material that offers better thermal and environmental protection, but is not breathable and recommended for limited use only.

Other Needs

After considering your most basic needs, consider additional necessities to include in your emergency preparedness kit. When making additions to your family emergency kit, keep in mind that it should be easily transportable, accessible, and close to an exit of the building. Mobile emergency kits should be smaller, more personalized, and should be no bigger than a backpack or fanny pack. While you can never be too ready or too prepared, you do not want to over burden yourself when you need to be on the move. Consult with the checklists from the FEMA Ready.gov and American Red Cross websites provided below to determine your planning needs.

http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/documents/red_cross_kit_checklist.pdf

http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/documents/ready_checklist.pdf

Government of Canada

http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/

Leave a Reply