Prairie View Municipality Emergency Plan

EMERGENCIES HAPPEN … ARE YOU PREPARED?

Emergencies happen when we least expect them, often when families are not together (ie; always at the worst possible moment). 

Perhaps you've just heard screeching tires and the sound of trucks colliding, followed swiftly by clouds of debris and the sharp scent of gasoline and smoke. Suddenly, the situation looks like it's spiraling out of control. You think about your kids at school, or your elderly parents down the street. Does everyone know what to do, where to go?

Maybe you're camping off the beaten trail when an vicious storm unexpectedly hits. A large tree has fallen across your path and you've sustained injuries. You need help, but your cell phone isn't working. You need to be able to get yourself to a safe location where you can wait until help arrives. Do you have the supplies and knowledge to be able to do so?

In a large-scale emergency, it may take first-responders extended periods of time to reach you. Ideally, you need to be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. You will likely have many of the necessary items already:

• food and drinking water
• medications
• a battery operated flashlight
• warm clothing

The key is to ensure that your supplies are organized, easy to find, and portable (and that your batteries work)!

We advise that you keep your emergency kit somewhere that's easily accessible to everyone in your family. With large households, it's a good idea to divide the supplies into separate backpacks. Each kit should be personalized to its owner - equipped with any necessary medications, medical supplies, and personal essentials, with lighter kits for children & young adults.   

VERY BASIC EMERGENCY KIT

• Drinking water – at least 2 liters per person per day, to be replaced every six months
• Non perishable food; energy bars, canned food, dried fruit, and snacks (replace annually)
• Manual can opener
• Flashlight and radio (include extra batteries; replace annually)
• First Aid Kit
• Cash
• Extra sets of house & car keys
• Personal items; prescription meds, infant formula, equipment for persons with disabilities, food, drinking water, collars/leashes & carriers for your pets, etc
• Emergency contact information and a copy of the Prairie View Emergency Plan (linked at the top of this page)

RECOMMENDED EXTRAS

• 2 additional liters of water per person per day for cooking and sanitation
• Water purifying tablets (available at the Home & Agro Co-op) 
• Candles & matches in a waterproof ziploc
• Warm blanket for each person
• Whistle – to attract attention
• Toiletries, including hand sanitizer and toilet paper
• Utensils
• Basic tools; a hammer, pliers, pocket knife, screwdrivers, work gloves, dust/gas mask, duct tape 
• Garbage bags

WILDFIRES

How to prepare for a wildfire:

If your community is surrounded by brush or forest, we advise that you follow these instructions to prepare your home and family for potential wildfires - 

• Prepare an emergency kit (see above)
• Check for, and remove, fire hazards in and around your home (dried out branches, leaves and debris) 
• Keep a good sprinkler in an accessible location
• Learn fire safety techniques and teach them to members of your family 
• Have fire drills with your family on a regular basis
• Maintain first-aid supplies 
• Have an escape plan so that all members of the family know how to get out of the house quickly and safely 
• Have a emergency plan so family members can contact each other in case they are separated during an evacuation 
• Make sure all family members are familiar with the technique of "STOP, DROP, AND ROLL" in case of clothes catching on fire 
• Make sure every floor and all sleeping areas have smoke detectors
• Consult with your local fire department about making your home fire-resistant
• If you are on a farm/ranch, wildfires could trap sheltered livestock inside. Leaving animals unsheltered is preferable, or if time and personal safety permits, evacuation away from the danger zone should be considered 

If you see a wildfire approaching your home:

If you see a fire approaching your home or community, report it immediately by dialing 911, or your local emergency number. If it is safe, and there is time before the fire arrives, you should take the following action - 

• Close all windows and doors in the house
• Cover vents, windows, and other openings of the house with duct tape and/or precut pieces of plywood
• Park your car, positioned forward out of the driveway
• Keep car windows closed and have your valuables already packed in your car
• Turn off propane or natural gas
• Move any propane barbeques into the open, away from structures
• Turn on the lights in the house, porch, garage and yard
• Inside the house, move combustible materials - curtains and furniture - away from the windows
• Place a ladder to the roof in the front of the house
• Put lawn sprinklers on the roof of the house and turn on the water 
• Move all combustibles away from the house, including firewood and lawn furniture 
• Evacuate your family and pets to a safe location
• Stay tuned to your local radio station for up-to-date information on the fire and possible road closures

During a wildfire:

• Monitor local radio stations. 
• Be prepared to evacuate at any time
• Evacuate if told to do so 
• Keep all doors and windows closed in your home 
• Remove flammable drapes, curtains, awnings or other window coverings 
• Keep lights on to aid visibility in case smoke fills the house
• If sufficient water is available, turn sprinklers on to wet the roof and any water-proof valuables 

This information has been provided by the Prairie View Municipality Emergency Preparedness Committee. 
Please contact Liz Finch if you have any questions.

Emergency Response Team Meeting Minutes:
Minutes
Functional EMO Exercises