City of Toronto helping inform residents how to prepare for emergencies

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release:  May 4, 2015     

City of Toronto helping inform residents how to prepare for emergencies

An emergency can happen at any time or any place. May 3 to 9 is Emergency Preparedness Week in Toronto and in other communities across Canada. The City of Toronto's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is encouraging all residents to learn more about becoming emergency ready.

"Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility," said Mayor John Tory. "Each of us can reduce the risks we face during an emergency by learning how to better prepare ourselves, our families and our communities to help keep everyone safe and minimize property damage."

The OEM is the City's lead during an emergency. Together, the City and its partners are prepared to assist residents during all types of emergencies, including extreme weather, floods, power outages and utility disruptions, fires and health emergencies.

Residents also have an important role to play in emergency preparedness. The City encourages all residents to make an emergency plan and to have a 72-hour emergency kit on hand that includes the following:

• enough drinking water for three days (four litres per person per day) 

• a battery-powered or crank radio and a flashlight 

• batteries for flashlights and radios 

• three-day supply of non-perishable food that meets dietary needs, including food for infants, children, seniors and pets if required 

• manual can opener 

• first aid kit 

• hand sanitizer, and 

• prescription drugs, medical supplies and any special equipment needed.

More information about emergency preparedness is available at http://www.toronto.ca/oem. This website also includes additional personal preparedness information for all residents, including vulnerable residents, adults who have special needs and seniors.

Residents are also reminded that it is important to have homeowner and tenant insurance to help protect themselves and their families.

This news release is also available on the City's website: http://bit.ly/1OTVPBV

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Leisa Odlum, Strategic Communications, 416-397-5313, lodlum@toronto.ca