Municipal Affairs and Environment
May 8, 2017

Minister Joyce Recognizes Emergency Preparedness Week

The Honourable Eddie Joyce, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment, today recognized May 7-13 as Emergency Preparedness Week. The 2017 theme is Plan. Prepare. Be Aware.

Emergency Preparedness Week is recognized across the country with the provinces and territories and Public Safety Canada. The objective is to raise awareness and educate residents on the ways they can prepare for emergency situations.

As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, the Hurricane Awareness Tour made a stop at Gander International Airport on Sunday, May 7. The tour, organized by the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration and the U.S. Air Force, visits cities along the east coast of North America which have been impacted by tropical storms. The public had the opportunity to tour a hurricane hunter aircraft and speak with meteorologists from the Canadian Hurricane Centre, the U.S. National Hurricane Centre and the Newfoundland and Labrador Weather Office.

The Provincial Government is working with all provinces and territories, Public Safety Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pelmorex (The Weather Network) and public and private broadcasters on Alert Ready, an emergency public alerting system. The system broadcasts alerts on different types of emergencies, including fires; natural disasters such as tornados, flash floods and hurricanes; biological problems such as drinking water contamination; hazardous issues including explosions; and environmental events such as air quality.

All residents in Newfoundland and Labrador are encouraged to become familiar with the risks specific to their community and province, make a plan, and get an emergency kit to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours in an emergency.

Quote
“Emergency Preparedness Week is an excellent opportunity for all residents to make an emergency plan and put together an emergency kit. We have been working with our federal, provincial and territorial partners to improve people’s awareness of the positive difference it makes when we are all prepared in the event of an emergency. Our government has been working hard to ensure that municipalities have emergency plans and that residents are ready to respond to and deal with an emergency.”
Honourable Eddie Joyce
Minister of Municipal Affairs and Environment

 

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Media contacts
Lynn Robinson
Municipal Affairs and Environment
709-729-5449, 691-9466
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca

2017 05 08                              3:15 p.m.