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Print | YORK REGION>Services>Emergency Management>Learn more |
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Frequently asked questions |
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Why should I have both a Go-Bag and an Emergency Supplies Kit? One is mobile; the other is less so. The Go-Bag is intended for you to grab quickly in the case of evacuation. You are either going to an evacuation/reception centre or to family or friends. Items found in your Emergency Supplies Kit will likely be available to you at that destination. The contents of your Go-Bag are not likely to be available – your medication, keys, spare glasses, etc. If you are required to shelter-in-place or are storm-staid in your home, the contents of both your Go-Bag and your Emergency Supplies Kit will be available to you. Is 72 hours of supplies really enough? Many organizations are now suggesting that a 7-day supply is more prudent when planning for emergencies. This requires a greater investment, but clearly provides more of a buffer in the event of an emergency. When considering pandemic and the expected impact on the supply chain, the more you have on hand, the better. Be sure to rotate perishable goods. Who does what during an emergency? Emergencies are local issues - 95% of all emergencies are handled exclusively by the local municipality. Emergencies escalate up to regional, provincial and federal governments only if necessary. Municipalities provide Fire Services, Public Works, Emergency Management, and other supporting departments. Regional services that may be involved in a response to an emergency include York Regional Police (YRP), Emergency Medical Services (EMS), Emergency Social Services, Public Health, Environmental Services, Transportation Services, and Emergency Management. What are the different types of disasters? York Region is vulnerable to a wide range of potential emergency situations. Some of these emergencies happen frequently, with localized impacts (e.g. fires, chemical spills) while others are rare but would have severe consequences on the population and the environment (e.g. ice storm). As a result, large-scale devastating emergencies occur very rarely. In general, disasters or emergencies can be categorized into two groupings: Natural Hazards – are those related to naturally-occurring elements and conditions, including floods, severe weather, and ice and snow storms. Human-Caused Hazards – are accidental and include chemical spills, explosions and leaks, train derailments, plane crashes, public transit crashes, multi-car pile-ups, and power outages. Technological emergencies are also human-caused and can affect critical infrastructure, computer technology, telecommunications and other information technology issues. What is emergency management? Emergency management is an organized process of planning, decision-making and assigning resources to prevent or respond to any emergency event. The goal of emergency management is to provide an organized approach to save lives, prevent injuries, and protect property and the environment if an emergency occurs. There are five components of emergency management: Mitigation – Measures taken to reduce chances of an event, or minimize its impact. These include placing standards on industry to help prevent impact on residential areas; establishing sub-standard construction; educating the public. Prevention – Activities that avoid an incident or to stop an emergency from occurring. Preparedness – Disaster planning, recognition of hazards, training, exercises. Response – Direct assistance to disaster area or as a support agency to first-responders. Recovery – Agencies determine impact; identify needs to return to pre-disaster condition. |
