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34-The Canadian Champion, Friday, April 29, 2005 -~ I- CoMnctio Qukk lips to Prepare for an Emergency Is you famity ready? Make an emfrgncysuvva kit Otha includs fatIght batteries, oand", and matches i a waterproocf containeifirst aïdIbtaryop«mued mio, extra car ke" and cash, awhistit and personal tok4ok ad ifant care items. Mab a plan that ouflines potential risks iyour hoe, urwoekplac ouir comnw*y andyour regloet. Have a fanlyeycuation plan and practice it at leIs once a year. De érfomiedof the rikcin yur ame andi what do i case of floods, tomiedos, and tedxxdorg entaln"accdent suds as chernlr sphusan.d power fdres For more iformation on planning for an emergencyobtain a ccipy of a Personal Emrehy paredness Guide, aval"i thrgh ffln Ragion et wwwregloonAnca. - Aoos- wtiat todo " Sefo« re apare an emergency suvival " Have a battery-powered radio on hand and isten to instnacîions froni your local station. " Assuming there is enough time, shut off ali power in your home or business, move furniture, electrical appliances and chemnicals to highe ground. " Disonnect eaves troughs. " Evacuate your home when instructed by local emergency authouities. Dont forgetto brinig your emergerncY surviWakit! " AftWr Make sure your bouse us stutmyebefoe enteir " Avowewl* ock yVearig ru*bW boots i ny ameaIcode wlh mcwethan live centimetres of " Remeerfi foodvAftm can be contarnated wkh sewage and other " AsSrrible a dan upçIdt that nudes -lve nuskis, pals, mMOati garbage bags, bleath andl non- am doishwavishig detergent Building a Disaster Resilient Community Joyce Savoline Regional Chairman One of my highest priorities as Chairman is the continued health and safety of our community. In Halton, natural occurances such as floods, snowstorms, tornados and earthquakes are ail potential tbreats 10 our safety and welfare. But, with careful planning and preparation, Halton residents can minimize the impact 10 families and property. We caîl il "building a disaster resilient community" and we do that by encouraging each and every one of you 10 do your part in planning for emergencies at home, juat as the Region engages in emergency planning for the entire community. The first week of May is Emergency Preparedness Week. In May, we also recognize our paramedics through Emergency Medical Services Week, Health and Safety Week, our public health nurses through Nurses Week and our public works and planning staff îhrough National Public Works Week. All of these professionals contribute 10 our safety and well-being and while we direct public attention toi emergency preparedness ai? ihis lime of year, our planning aI the Region neyer stops. The Region works year round with our parîners 10 ensure a coordînated response 10 potential, imminent or actual emergencies. These parîners include our local municipalities, Burlingion, Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville, the Halton Regional Police Service, HalIon's two school boards, conservation authorities, local health care organizations, local chemical associations and numerous volunteer agencies such as the Canadian Red Cross, Salvation Army and St. John Amhulance. But our most important parîner in huilding a disaster resilient communîty is you. That is why the Region, in partnershîp wîth Communications and Training Critical in Emergency Planning A. Brent Marshall Chief Administrative Officer As we go about our everyday lives, disasters may seem like a distant possibility. Emergencies, however, can happen anytime and anywyhere. Being prepared and having an emergency plan in place is crucial 10 minimizing the impact of a disaster. That is why Halton Region has a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan in place, ready 10 he activated as needed. HalIon's emergency management program has four distinct pillars: mitigation, those actions we can take t0 prevent the impact of an emergency; preparedness, developing plans, conducting training and exercises and raising public awareness; response, managing the emergency situation and providing information; and recovery, the actions taken 10 return 10 normal. Communications is critical in any emergency. In the event of a threatening, actual or imminent emergency situation, Halton will provide appropriate and factual information 10 the public and the media. We have developed an Emergency Puhlic Information Plan 10 complement our Emergency Response Plan that outlines how the Region will consmunicate, issue directives 10 the public our local municipalities, has prepared a Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide that is foul of practical suggestions 10 help you and your family prepare for an emergency. Our emergency management page on our web site is being updated to provide parents with hands-on, interactive activities to engage your children - ranging from how and when 10 caîl 911 to preparing an emergency survival kit from items you have readily available in your home. We are ail partners in emergency preparedness. Halton Region will continue to find innovative and efficient ways to help you make Halton a disaster resilient community. Halton in History Did you know that floods were almost an annual event in Gien Williams? The picture shown here is of St. Alhan the Martyr Anglican Church, a heautiful stone church, erected in 1903 in Gien Williams. Audrey Robinson is pictured in front of the church in this 1964 photo. The church is definitely a well-huilt structure, 10 have withstood aIl the flooding it has seen over the years. Floods occurred in 1950, 1954, 1960, 1961, 1965, 1974 and 1980. Residents, expecting the spring flood, started preparing hy lifting up their furniture and opening the front and hack doors 10 ]et the waters flow thruugh! To Iearn more about these historical floods, please consult "Gien Williams on the Credit River", hy historian Mark Rowe. Exercise Charlie was the largest emergency exercise undertaken in Canada last year. and respond 10 information requesîs on any aspect of the emergency. If the situation warrants, in addition 10 news releases and media conferences, Halton will establish a Citizen lnquiry Centre 10 open the lines of communication and answer telephone queries from the public. We have established partnerships with local media and we are also making connections with media outlets that can provide emergency information 10 the diverse communities in Halton. In addition 10 communications, Halton regularly conducts emergency exercises 10 enhance ils level of preparedness. Just last faîl, we completed Exercise Charlie, a live field exercise involvîng our local municipal parîners, Halton Region Police Services, the local hospitals and school boards. As you can see from the attached photo, il was an extensive undertaking. In fact, Exercise Charlie was the largest emergency exercise undertaken in Canada last year. Partial funding for this initiative was received from Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada as welI as the Oakville-Mississauga Community Awareness and Emergency Response Group. Emergeîîcy management is an integral part of our husiness - and another way that we are conunitted to serving you, the people of Haton.