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www.insideHALTON.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 30, 2012 · 22 Your Halton Connection April 2012 www.halton.ca Emergency preparedness starts with you by Regional Chair Gary Carr The recent train derailment in Burlington reminds us that we all need to be prepared, because emergencies can happen at any time and any place. Whether it is a derailment or chemical spill, power outage or a natural disaster, such as a tornado, preparation is key. In Halton, our emergency response partners work together to assume a coordinated approach to the planning and management of emergencies. Halton Region, the Halton Regional Police Service, the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville work together to plan and prepare for emergencies. Our goal is to ensure Halton is a disaster resilient community, ready to deal with any potential, imminent or actual emergency. Working together, we have implemented an extensive Emergency Management Program that incorporates five phases ­ prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. Brant Memorial Hospital, Hamilton Health Sciences, Credit Valley Hospital and Trillium Health Centre in Mississauga. It was truly a coordinated response. Our response clearly demonstrated that we were prepared. While governments and partners at all levels work hard to keep residents safe, individuals also have an important role to play. Are you prepared? Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. Learn how to deal with emergencies and minimize the impact to your family. Residents need to be prepared to cope on their own for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency, while fire, police and paramedics help those in desperate need. Being prepared really is your best defence. Prepare your Go-Kit A basic kit includes: Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide Take three steps to protect yourself and your family from all types of emergencies. Step 1. Know the Risks Every year people are faced with emergency situations. In some cases, these situations are life altering. Don't be caught off-guard. Know the hazards in your area. Learn more about these precautions and the risks that may occur in Halton by visiting www.halton.ca/beprepared. Service (CENS) During the February 26 VIA Rail Canada train derailment in Burlington, Halton Region's and the City of Burlington's Emergency Response plans worked just like they were supposed to. Over the course of the incident, Halton Regional Police Services had 42 officers and the Burlington Fire Department had four Chiefs and 45 responders on site. Halton EMS responded with seven ambulances, a Superintendent and two Deputy Chiefs. Hamilton supplied four ambulances and Toronto added a multiple patient bus and a Supervisor. Peel Region EMS sent ambulances to help support any other emergency calls in Halton Region during the incident, and York Region sent vehicles to Peel to support calls in Peel Region. Burlington Transit had two buses on site to provide temporary shelter for train passengers. Injured passengers were treated at Joseph Step 2. Make a Plan Everyone in your family should know what to do before, during and after an emergency. Develop a plan for you and your family and keep it in a safe place. Remember to include the special needs of any family members as well as any animals such as pets. Review and use our Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide for tips. You can find it on our website, or dial 311 to request a copy. ...or buy one www.halton.ca/beprepared to Set 3. Get a Kit Assemble a Family Emergency Go-Kit to use during an evacuation of your home or community. Your Go-Kit should at a minimum include the items listed in the checklist (see sidebar), and should pack into an easy to carry container, such as a backpack or duffel bag. Make sure everyone knows where to find your Go-Kit. Emergency Preparedness Week, May 6 to 12, 2012, is a Canada-wide initiative to increase awareness about individual and family preparedness. Learn more by going to www.halton.ca/beprepared and remember to take the Emergency Preparedness online quiz every month. Halton Region Meeting Schedule April 6 April 10, 9:30 a.m. April 11, 9:30 a.m. April 11, 1:30 p.m. April 18, 9:30 a.m. www.halton.ca www.halton.ca/beprepared @BPreparedHalton