(Photo 148848206 © Roger Brown | Dreamstime.com)

By Ashley Lavallee-Koenig

alert ready system test on may 8

Red Deerians should get to ‘know the risks’ for Emergency Preparedness Week

May 7, 2024 | 10:34 AM

For this year’s Emergency Preparedness Week, the City urges Red Deerians to “Be Prepared: Know Your Risks” and ensure they are equipped for the kinds of disasters that may impact the area.

The national observance takes place from May 5-11, with a nationwide test of the Alert Ready system taking place on May 8.

“In Red Deer particularly, we can experience emergencies with infrastructure such as power outages and train derailments, and also natural emergencies such as floods, fires, tornadoes, drought, or heatwaves,” says Carol Lind, emergency management coordinator for the City.

Grass, equipment, and bale fires are top concerns in the summer for surrounding rural areas like Stettler County, says Clint Sime, director of emergency management for the Stettler Regional Emergency Management Agency (SREMA). Farmers that are vulnerable to these emergencies can use Stettler County’s guide for assistance with identifying risks and preparing to protect livestock.

“When we know the risks, we’re better prepared to take action to prevent and mitigate those risks,” Sime adds.

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As Red Deer and the surrounding areas are under a heavy rainfall warning, residents may want to take this week as an opportunity to prepare for a flood or power outage scenario. The City has also provided a guide that can be used as a base for this planning.

Some specific steps citizens can take to be prepared include, “making up an emergency plan which would include evacuation routes, safe meeting spots, important contact information,” says Lind, “(and) making sure that your family members know the plan and how to reach one another in case an emergency occurs when you’re not together.”

In the case of any emergency event, a 72-hour survival kit is good for residents to have on-hand. This kit should include water and non-perishable food, flashlights, and a radio, plus important documents such as bank records and I.D., essential medications, and pet or baby supplies, Lind clarifies.

Red Deer’s emergency command unit will be at the Touch-a-Truck event in Westerner Park on May 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. for residents who want a better understanding of how emergencies are handled.

Although the national Alert Ready system delivers emergency information, Lind encourages citizens to register for the Alberta Emergency Alert and Notify Red Deer for additional information.

The Alert Ready system test will broadcast once at 11:55 a.m. MT to the television, radio, and compatible wireless devices of every resident in Red Deer and the surrounding area.

The alert system, developed by the Pelmorex Corporation, is intended to warn Canadians about imminent or life-threatening situations such as floods, tornadoes, and Amber alerts.

Officials from Pelmorex remind residents that testing allows them to improve the reliability of the system for the moments when it really matters.

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