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Emergency Preparedness Week 2024

Township of Severn is recognizing May 5 to 11 as Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) through a proclamation and messaging encouraging residents to get prepared.

EP Week is a national awareness initiative that has taken place each year since 1996 that encourages Canadians to take a few simple steps to become better prepared to face emergencies.

"The vast majority of emergencies happen without warning, and they happen fast. It’s important to be prepared to face a range of situations, as this can help ensure the safety of yourself, your family, and your loved ones. Depending on what happens, you’ll either stay in your home, leave your home, or be away from home. It’s not safe to assume you’ll have electricity, water, cooking or heating gas, or access to the internet. Take some time this week to know the risks and make a plan. If you wait until you need it, it’s already too late."

- Director of Fire and Emergency Services / Fire Chief Ritch Lowell

What you can do   

  • Know the risks

    • Consequences of disasters can be similar across Canada but knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help you be better prepared. Learn more about hazards and other emergencies that may affect you on Canada's Hazards and Emergencies page. 

  • Make a plan

    • During an emergency, every second can count. Make sure you're prepared so that you can act fast in any emergency. A plan will help you and your family know what to do.

  • Create an emergency kit

    • During an emergency you may need to get by without power or tap water - be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

  • Reduce your risk

    • Natural disasters may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we may face. These emergencies can include unforeseen events like wildfires, chemical spills, snowstorms, floods, and disease outbreaks which can occur quickly and without warning, and understanding these risks helps each one of us to be better prepared.

"This week, I encourage you to take a few simple actions to be better prepared. Our experiences and those of people across Canada over the past few years have shown that individual preparedness goes a long way to help people cope with the stress - both during and after an emergency. I would encourage our residents to make both an emergency plan and a 72-hour kit now - it really can make a difference."

-Mayor Mike Burkett

Emergency notices

In the event of an emergency, please:

  • visit our newsfeed for public notices
  • follow us on Facebook and X
  • listen to local radio stations for the most up-to-date information.

Review the public weather alerts to find out about severe weather events.

Emergency management resources

For more information on how to prepare for an emergency, check out the following resources:

Staff contacts

Ritch Lowell
Director of Fire and Emergency Services / Fire Chief
Phone: 705-325-2315 x247
Email Chief Lowell

Jake Hawkins
Fire Prevention Officer
Phone: 705-325-2315 x248
Email Jake

Image courtesy of the Government of Canada.