What to Do When Floodwaters Recede
A disaster may affect the whole community where individuals may be badly hurt or have severe property damage. It is important to realize you are responsible for your own safety and well-being, as well as the safety of anyone on the property when disaster strikes. When everyone prepares, the whole community becomes safer.
By doing everything you can to take care of yourself, you help free up critical emergency resources for those in need, such as the disabled, sick and injured or the elderly. Families and businesses must be prepared to cover their basic needs without additional assistance for the first three days of a disaster. Businesses and residents, who are able, are expected to assist with the recovery, to ensure the area can return to normal as soon as possible.
Canada has a graduated system of responsibility for emergencies. The first to respond are individual citizens who call upon fire, police and emergency medical services. When they are not able to manage the situation, the City of Dauphin will step in to provide additional resources. If local response is overwhelmed, the provincial government and then the federal government will provide assistance. When Canada is unable to cope on its own, international assistance is requested.
The City of Dauphin Emergency Plan prepares the City to direct and control response to large-scale emergency situations with additional powers and resources. It does not apply to day-to-day situations dealt with by fire, police and ambulance personnel, but will be implemented to prevent loss of life, limit harm or detriment to the safety, health or welfare of people, limit damage to property and the environment or will continue and restore essential services.
There are a variety of potential emergencies, which may affect the residents of Dauphin and surrounding area. We may face dangers from a hazardous materials incident or incidents caused by human error. International terrorism can have far reaching consequences and local criminal activity may require special responses. Summer brings extreme hot weather and thunderstorms may bring lightning and hail, or may be strong enough to produce tornadoes and damaging winds. Heavy or prolonged rainfall can lead to flooding. Our winters bring different hazards such as blizzard conditions, which can close highways and make local travel unsafe. Heavy snowfall can cause building damage and prolonged severe cold weather can have serious impacts on health and on our infrastructure, such as a loss of water, electricity, gas, and communications.
Planning ahead and helping each other will provide the best possible chance for survival and recovery from an emergency and the community is encouraged to start with an individual or family preparedness plan. Begin by posting emergency numbers, preparing an emergency supplies kit, knowing what actions should be taken during emergencies, learning first aid and CPR, knowing what medications you are taking, checking your insurance and protecting valuable papers.
To speak with the City of Dauphin Emergency Coordinator, Conrad Demeria, call 204-622-3226.
Find information online at www.manitobaemo.ca, www.getprepared.ca or www.redcross.ca.
To view the Emergency Measures 72 Hour Kit click here.