Winnipeg residents reminded to plan ahead for emergencies

Released: May 6, 2024 at 1:11 p.m.
Emergency Preparedness Week is May 5-11, 2024

Winnipeg, MB – The City of Winnipeg’s Office of Emergency Management is reminding Winnipeg residents to plan ahead for emergencies as we mark Emergency Preparedness Week, May 5 to 11, 2024.

"Emergency Preparedness Week is an important reminder for all Winnipeggers to plan ahead,” said Mayor Scott Gillingham. “By taking the free Ready Winnipeg course online you can learn how to effectively prepare for emergencies and take simple steps improve safety for you and your family."

Residents can learn more about how to prepare for possible emergencies by taking the City of Winnipeg’s free, online Ready Winnipeg course. Participants will learn about the various hazards that can affect Manitobans, the main hazards facing Winnipeggers, and what steps they can take to prepare.

“We recommend residents learn about the risks we may face in Winnipeg, assess their needs, and then make a plan and emergency kit,” said Mike Olczyk, the City’s Emergency Management Coordinator.

After the risks have been identified, residents should:

  1. Assess any special needs for accessibility or medical care
  2. Make a plan
  3. Build an emergency kit
  4. Engage their support network of family, friends, neighbours, and caregivers

“We don’t want anyone left behind in an emergency,” said Jason Shaw, Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Service Deputy Chief of Safety, Emergency Management and Public Information. “Building a strong support network of family, friends, neighbours, and caregivers can help you stay safe.”

Emergency preparedness habits to try:

  • Make and update an emergency kit for your household. Consider adding a few items each month so you don’t have to build it all at once.
  • Create an emergency plan and update it often. Include details like key phone numbers, documents, identification, and how you and your family will respond in an emergency. Think about how you would get in touch with your family if something happens while they’re at school, daycare, or work.
  • Create a home escape plan and practice it often. Involve everyone in your household.
  • Take the free, self-led Ready Winnipeg course online and invite your family, friends, and colleagues to do the same. This course covers Winnipeg-specific hazards, how you can prepare for an emergency, and what the City can do during a disaster.
  • Follow the City of Winnipeg and other trusted sources on social media. In an emergency, social media is one way the City will communicate with residents.

For more information on how to prepare for an emergency, including items you should include in your household’s emergency kit, see: winnipeg.ca/emergencypreparedness.

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