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18 - The Oakville Beaver, Friday May 2, 2008 www.oakvillebeaver.com Your Halton Connection May 2008 May 4 ­ 10, 2008 by Regional Chair Gary Carr or severe storm can happen where you are. Knowing the risks in your region, making an yourselves for at least 72 hours. It's as simple as it is essential. Each May we recognize Emergency Preparedness Week, however Halton Region staff work year round to ensure the safety and well-being of the community. Our responsibilities include making sure we are prepared in consultation with our municipal partners and the Halton Regional Police Service to launch a coordinated response in the event of a wide-spread emergency. Public education also forms a large part of the emergency management program. We emphasize the '72 hour rule' ­ that residents should prepare themselves to be self-sufficient for the first 72 hours of an emergency while responders are onsite, managing the specific incident. Halton is committed to providing information on the steps individuals and families can take to lessen the impact and stress of an emergency. The Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide is a key resource for residents. Complementing the guide is a short, personal emergency preparedness video which can be viewed on-line at www.halton.ca/beprepared. In March, we added to our library of materials with the official launch of our new emergency management resources that focus on individuals with special needs. I'm proud to say that the materials we developed have met with wide approval from community organizations, the general public and various stakeholders. Based on a publication produced by Emergency Management Ontario, a series of topic-focused pamphlets on the following subjects were developed: Considerations Disabilities This information was also prepared in an audio format, while the Vision pamphlet was transcribed to Braille. Our program is designed to ensure that Halton is a disaster-resilient community ready to deal with any emergency. Each of us has a role to play and I encourage you to do your part. Access our resources and prepare now! planning for an Kit prepared ahead If you would like to arrange for a presentation to your group or organization on any aspect of Halton Region's Emergency Management Program, please contact us. Launch of Emergency Preparedness Resources for people with special needs/disabilities held on March 18, 2008. Resource Halton Region, Halton Regional Police Service, Emergency Online at www.halton.ca 905-825-6000 (toll free 1-866- May Meetings and Closures at Halton Region Headquarters May 7, 9:30 a.m. May 19 May 21, 9:30 a.m. May 21, 1:30 p.m. May 22, 9:30 a.m. May 28, 9:30 a.m.