May 2, 2024 — City of Burlington
During Emergency Preparedness Week, the Burlington Fire Department will be hosting two Emergency Preparedness education sessions at Central Library and the Burlington Seniors’ Centre. These free education sessions provide an opportunity to learn about preparing for an emergency so you can protect yourself and your family during an emergency.
Event Details
Emergency Preparedness Education Session #1
- Date: Sunday, May 5, 2024
- Location: Burlington Public Library – Central Branch – 2331 New Street
- Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Advanced registration is available here. Space is limited.
Emergency Preparedness Education Session #2
- Date: Wednesday May 8, 2024
- Location: Burlington Seniors’ Centre
- Time: 1 p.m. to 2 p.m.
- Advanced registration is available here (A Live and Play account is required, and that the Course ID is 00198481). Space is limited.
In addition to the above in-person education opportunities, there are easy ways to better prepare you and your family during an emergency, including:
Making a plan
Make a plan for what you and your family will do in an emergency or disaster. It’s important that you and your family have a step-by-step action plan in case of emergencies. Involve kids in fun activities that teach them about your emergency plans, including seasonal considerations, your communications plan, and what to do if an emergency occurs while school is in session.
Visit burlington.ca/emergencyprep for more information about emergency preparedness, including a detailed emergency preparedness guide, preparedness information related to pets and several hazards, as well as directions on what to do if you are asked to evacuate or shelter-in-place during an emergency.
Building an emergency kit
It is recommended to have emergency kits for your home and vehicle, and that your home kit should have enough supplies for your family/household for three days after an emergency. Visit www.burlington.ca/emergencyprep for more information on suggested kit contents.
Staying informed
Stay informed by following trust-worthy sources of information. The City’s social media (@cityburlington), online newsfeeds and Service Burlington (905-335-7777) will be updated regularly during large-scale emergencies. To subscribe to the City’s newsfeeds, visit burlington.ca/subscribe.
Emergency Preparedness Week is the perfect opportunity to highlight the message to “Plan for All Seasons”, which is this year’s theme. Completing proactive emergency preparedness planning can make a world of difference in an emergency, and I encourage residents to explore available resources, including visiting the City’s website and signing up for Alert Burlington, the City’s public notification system for community emergencies.
Robyn Heibert, Community Emergency Management Specialist
Another way to stay informed is by subscribing to Alert Burlington, which is Burlington’s public notification system for community emergencies. Residents and anyone who works within Burlington are encouraged to subscribe to Alert Burlington.
In the event of a large-scale emergency, Alert Burlington will send important messages by text, email and/or recorded phone message to subscribers. Messages can also be sent out in several languages, depending on your communication preferences.
To register for Alert Burlington, go to burlington.ca/alertburlington. You will be asked to create an account with your name, address and mobile phone number, land-line phone number and/or email address.
For those who have registered for Alert Burlington in the past year, Emergency Preparedness Week is the perfect opportunity to log into your Alert Burlington profile and confirm that your information remains up-to-date. More information is available at burlington.ca/alertburlington.
Emergency Preparedness Week
Emergency Preparedness Week runs between May 5-11. Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week) is a national event supported by Public Safety Canada, and Emergency Management Ontario, who work with Indigenous organizations, non-governmental organizations, private sector organizations and municipalities who support activities at the local level. An annual event for over 25 years, it traditionally takes place during the first full week of May.
Burlington is a city where people, nature and business thrive. Sign up to learn more about Burlington at burlington.ca/subscribe and follow @CityBurlington on social media.
