Be Prepared. Not Scared.

The City of Elliot Lake is committed to providing a safe community and part of this is through its Community Emergency Management Program. This program refers to the preparedness and response capabilities of the community in meeting the needs caused by wide scale emergency or disaster. It is the coordinated response of both municipal and non-municipal resources. Emergency Management encompasses planning, preparation, policy, education and training for both emergency personnel and the public, and response to and recovery from an emergency.
Mayor Rick Hamilton
Emergency is defined as an abnormal situation, which requires prompt action to limit damage to person, property and the environment. The difference between routine emergency and disasters is the difference in both quantity and quality. Disasters threaten public safety, public health, the environment, property, critical infrastructure and economic stability.

In your day-to-day living, disasters may seem a distant possibility, yet natural disasters, such as floods, tornadoes…technological or environmental accidents such as chemical spills…or service disruptions such as power failures during the winter…can strike any community, at any time. It occurs with some degree of surprise and requires unusual and demanding response effort.

Most people are unaware of their responsibility for initial action in an emergency in that they should be prepared to do what is reasonably necessary in the first 72 hours to protect their life and property. It’s important to have a family or individual emergency plan in place before disaster strikes. Preparedness is the planning process a family or individual takes to ensure they can survive an emergency.

Preparedness comes in all shapes and forms - for example - in case of emergency – you should know if the school will keep your children or will they be sending them home. In case of a house fire or other unexpected event, each member of your family should know what to do.

There are all types of emergencies in which to prepare for. Do you prepare yourself for the Woods? Each year the news carries stories about adults and children being lost in the woods. What if you car breaks down in the middle of winter? Do you have an emergency plan - blankets in your car, a shovel, flashlight?

Common sense and preparation are the key.

Elliot Lake wants you to be Prepared. Emergencies can and do happen so it is an important challenge for everyone to be aware of and be prepared for both natural and human-related emergencies. Elliot Lake’s Emergency Management website is a valuable resource and is designed for easy reference. I encourage everyone to become familiar with Emergency Preparedness and to develop your own family emergency plan.

Sincerely

Mayor Rick Hamilton
City of Elliot Lake