May 6, 2016
Manitoba's New Infrastructure Minister Attends National Meeting of Ministers Responsible for Emergency Management
– – –Meeting Caps Emergency Preparedness Week
TORONTO—Take the time to plan, prepare and be aware of potential emergencies, better protecting yourself, your family and your community, Infrastructure Minister Blaine Pedersen, minister responsible for emergency measures, suggested here today while meeting with federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for emergency management.
“Natural disasters may be beyond our control, but better planning and preparation will enable people to recognize the potential risks in their communities and plan to deal with them,” the minister said. “Emergencies can strike anytime and anywhere, but there are steps that anyone is able to take which will reduce the impact of potential emergencies, whether natural or human-caused.”
This year’s Emergency Preparedness Week theme is Plan – Prepare – Be Aware. The minister encouraged all Manitobans to have a plan in place and the supplies necessary to survive at least the first 72 hours of an emergency while responders help those in urgent need. This special week is a national effort of federal, provincial and territorial emergency management organizations, tagged #EPWEEK on Twitter.
Pedersen noted it is important to:
- know the risks – although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing specific community and regional risks can help ensure better preparation;
- make a plan – it will help everyone know what to do; and
- make or buy an emergency kit – during an emergency, blankets, bottled water and other basic supplies may be needed to help everyone be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
For more information on emergency preparedness, visit www.manitoba.ca/emo, www.getprepared.gc.ca and follow www.twitter.com/mbgov.
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