Emergency Preparedness

Everyone has a role to play in an emergency. EP Week is an opportunity for you to take action to ensure you are prepared to protect yourself, your family and your community during an emergency. This year, the theme is Be Prepared. Know Your Risks. The intent of the theme is to encourage Canadians to understand the risks in their area and learn what actions they can take to protect themselves and their families.

For more info, please visit the government of Canada's website: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/ep-wk/index-en.aspx

For information specifically about COVID-19 please call the Public Health Unit on 613-966-5500 or 1-800-267-2803. For COVID-19 related information about municipal services, public notices and facilities please do not hesitate to contact staff at 613-473-4030.

View Current Water Conditions Map.

Hastings Prince Edward Public Health: Low Water Resource for Homeowners with Private Wells

Quinte Conservation Conserving Water Info Sheet

Quinte Conservation Drought Management Plan

Quinte Conservation Drought Info

Conservation Ontario

Information on flood/sewer back up clean up, from Public Safety Canada: http://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/hzd/flds-ftr-eng.aspx

How to prepare for and what to do during a power outage: Power Outages-What to do

Guides and Brochures:

Emergency Preparedness Guide 2023 booklet

Brochure Pets and Emergencies Tri-Fold Brochure 

Brochure Emergency Preparedness Pocket Brochure

Bookmark Emergency Survival Kit

Information Sheets:

Ready to Go kit                                                

How you Can Plan for Emergencies

1. Be Prepared

Make sure everyone in your family knows what to do before, during and after an emergency. As a family, make a plan and discuss how you can best prepare for the most likely hazards that will affect your home. If you live alone, make a plan for yourself and make sure you talk about it with your friends and neighbours.

2. Plan/Prep

Make sure you have supplies in your home to be self sufficient for at least 72 hours. You should have a list of emergency phone numbers handy and keep a copy in your Ready to Go kit. Select a family member or a friend who lives a distance away from you to be the contact person in the event that you get separated from your family. Make sure everyone in the family has this person’s contact information, put a copy in purses, briefcases, school backpacks etc. and make sure it is stored in electronic devices such as iPods, cellphones or laptops. You can also include floor plans that include where exits and escape routes from each room. Make sure your car has a Car Survival Kit in case you are stranded or need to travel a long distance.

Don’t forget your pets!! Make sure that you have a Pet Emergency Kit and have a list of pet friendly hotels, kennels, veterinarians or friends who can take your animal, or who you can stay with if you need to evacuate your home.

3. Know your Hazards

Make a list of all of the hazards that may affect you and your home. Contact your local Community Emergency Management Coordinator, Cathie on 613-473-4030, for information on the top local Hazards in your community. Find out how you can prevent, mitigate or prepare for these hazards to ensure that yourself, your family and your pets can remain safe and calm during an emergency.

Solar Eclipse Safety Ontario

Looking directly at the Sun without proper eye protection is unsafe EXCEPT during the brief total eclipse phase (“totality”). This happens ONLY within the narrow path of totality. At all other times, it is safe to look directly at the Sun ONLY through special- purpose solar filters, such as “eclipse glasses,” that comply with the transmittance requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international standard. Ordinary sunglasses, even very dark ones, are not safe for looking at the Sun.

• If you are inside the path of totality on April 8, 2024, remove your solar filter ONLY when the Moon completely covers the Sun’s bright face. As soon as the Sun begins to reappear, replace your solar filter to look at the remaining partial phases.

• Outside the path of totality, there is NO TIME when it is safe to look directly at the Sun without using a solar filter that complies with the transmittance requirements of the ISO 12312-2 international standard.

Always inspect your solar filter before use; if scratched, punctured, torn, or otherwise damaged, discard it. Read and follow any instructions printed on or packaged with the filter.

• Always supervise children using solar filters.

• If you normally wear eyeglasses, keep them on. Put your eclipse glasses on over them or hold your handheld viewer in front of them.

• Stand still and cover your eyes with your eclipse glasses or solar viewer before looking at the bright Sun. After looking at the Sun, turn away and remove your filter – do not remove it while looking at the Sun.

• Do not look at the uneclipsed or partially eclipsed Sun through an unfiltered camera, telescope, binoculars, or other optical device. Do not do so even while wearing eclipse glasses or using a handheld solar viewer in front of your eyes – the concentrated solar rays could damage the filter and enter your eyes, causing serious injury.

• Solar filters must be securely attached to the front of any telescope, binoculars, or camera lens. Seek expert advice from an astronomer before using a solar filter with a camera, telescope, binoculars, or any other optical device.

Another method for safe viewing of the partially eclipsed Sun is indirectly via pinhole projection. For example, with your back to the Sun, cross the outstretched, slightly open fingers of one hand over the outstretched, slightly open fingers of the other, creating a waffle pattern. In your hands’ shadow on the ground, the spaces between your fingers will show the Sun as crescents.

A solar eclipse is one of nature’s grandest spectacles. By following these simple rules, you can safely enjoy the view and be rewarded with memories to last a lifetime. For more information about eye safety and the eclipse, visit https://eclipse.aas.org/eye-safety.