Emergency Preparedness Week

Jack Byrne, Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs and minister responsible for the Newfoundland and Labrador Emergency Measures Organization, announced today that the province will participate in the national campaign for Emergency Preparedness Week which runs from May 2 - May 8.

"Emergency preparedness first must begin with the individual. It is essential that each and every one of us be prepared in the event of an emergency situation," said Minister Byrne. "We are all responsible for emergency preparedness whether it is on a municipal, provincial or federal level."

Emergency Preparedness Week was first conceived in 1995 as an annual program to build public awareness of Canada�s emergency preparedness principles and emergency management system. The affects of disaster, whether natural or human-caused, can greatly reduce and impact the basic necessities of life. Access to communication, transportation, food, clean water, finances, education, health care, housing and employment can all be affected during a disaster situation.

"Although we cannot always protect ourselves when an emergency situation arises, we can be better prepared for it," said Minister Byrne. "We can be aware of past disasters in our area which may reoccur. We can arrange with our families to put an evacuation plan in place in the event we need to get out of our homes quickly. Even something as simple as keeping an emergency kit in our homes, cars and workplaces can be beneficial. I encourage everyone to visit the Emergency Preparedness Web site at www.EPweek.ca to learn how you can be better prepared in the event of a disaster."

Knowing the risk you face is the first step to being prepared. It is up to each of us to learn about and prepare for potential emergencies. Prepare now! Learn how!

Media contact: Vanessa Colman-Sadd, Communications, (709) 729-1983

2004 05 03                                       11:30 a.m.