Incidents or emergencies are situations, or imminent circumstances, that may occur slowly or suddenly without warning and affect property, the health, safety, and welfare of a community. Emergency management involves preparing for, responding to, and recovering from incidents or emergencies that affect the public. These can range from infectious diseases and extreme weather events, to environmental hazards impacting the health of our population.
Emergency management strengthens the overall resilience of our communities and the broader health system through:
- preparedness;
- planning;
- mitigation;
- response; and
- recovery activities.
The health unit is one of many community stakeholders taking action to ensure that our communities are prepared for emergencies.
We:
- Identify and assess potential hazards and their impact on health and the environment.
- Lead and support collaborative response to emergencies.
- Engage with all levels of government, emergency partners, and the community on emergency planning and preparedness activities.
- Participate as part of local specialized response teams to help reduce the impact of incidents/emergencies on individuals and communities.
- Raise awareness and educate individuals about the potential risks and how they can prepare for emergencies.
- Provide reliable and timely public health information to individuals, families, and communities during an emergency.
What matters to your health
Before an emergency
Become familiar with the risks in your area, like floods or storms. An understanding of what can happen will allow you to be better prepared. Make a plan for the expected or unexpected and prepare an emergency kit with food, water, and other supplies to last up to 72 hours. Keep key telephone numbers handy, listen to weather warnings, and evacuate when advised by emergency responders.
After an emergency
Recovering from an emergency takes time. It is important to take care of yourself, your family, and your property. Accessing resources and support after an emergency will help you to cope with the after effects.
For more information
Call Health Connection at 705-721-7520 or 1-877-721-7520, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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