Preparing for an Emergency

The week of May 4 to 10 marks Emergency Preparedness Week across Canada, and Brockton is participating with the theme "Be Prepared. Know Your Risks."

We all play an important role in preparedness and community resilience during emergencies. Throughout this week, we'll be sharing information about the top four hazards identified for Brockton:

• Tornado
• Flood
• Cyber Attack
• Hazardous Material Incident

We encourage you to explore these topics, familiarize yourself with our emergency procedures and consider how prepared you are both at work and at home. Remember, being prepared is everyone's responsibility!

Check back each day this week for specific information about each risk and how you can prepare.

It’s Emergency Preparedness Week and today’s topic is tornados.

Tornados are identified as the number one risk to our community.

Tornados often accompany severe thunderstorms. They can occur any time, but often in the evening or afternoon in peak season, June and July.

Signs to watch for:

• Dark, often greenish or yellowish clouds.
• Rumbling or whistling sounds.

If this weather approaches, tune in for alerts from Environment Canada on the radio or the Weather CAN app.

If a tornado warning occurs:

• Move to your designated shelter area (basement or interior room without windows). If you are unable to leave the building take cover under a sturdy object such as a table or desk.
• Stay away from windows and exterior walls.
• If outside, find a low-lying area away from trees and power lines. Do not take cover under bridges or an overpass as the winds can accelerate through those locations.
• Never try to outrun a tornado in a vehicle.

If a tornado touches down: 

• Check your radio or weather app for more information.
• Conduct a survey of any damage, being cognizant of debris, loose branches, and downed hydro lines. 
• Stay clear of any lines you may see on the ground – assume they are live!
• If you smell gas, call 911. 
• Check on your neighbours to ensure their safety. 
• Pull out your home emergency kit and be prepared to be without hydro for several days. 

More Information:

Severe Storms - What to Do?

It’s Emergency Preparedness Week and today’s topic is flooding – the second highest risk in Brockton.

The beautiful Saugeen River running through the municipality is a benefit to our community, but it also increases the possibility of property damage or danger to public safety due to flooding.

Did you know?

• Flooding is the most frequent natural hazard across Canada and proves to be the costliest when it comes to property damage? 
• Floods can be caused by heavy rainfall, rapidly melting snow, ice jams and, in rare cases, the failure of natural or human-made dams. 
• Two out of 10 Canadian homes are at risk of flooding, but most homeowners are not aware of this. 

Knowing the risks in our area is the first step to being prepared.

Protect your property:

• Ensure doors and windows are properly sealed and downspouts installed so the water flows away from your foundation are easy steps to take.
• Don’t store important documents in your basement.
• Move furniture and important belongings to higher levels of the home if a flood is imminent. 

Know the risk:

• Follow the directions of local authorities and stay away from routes that may be closed due to the flooding.
• Water levels can be deceiving, and it can be deeper than it looks whether you are in a car or on foot. 
• You should not drive through flooded roadways or walk near the water’s edge at any time. 

If your property or community is flooded: 

• Once you’ve been given all clear to return to your home, you still need to be cautious. 
• Electrical, sewage, heating and appliances should all be inspected and cleared by a professional technician for safety reasons. 
• Take photos or video of the damage and contact your insurance company.

More Information:

Floods - What to Do.pdf.

It’s Emergency Preparedness Week and today’s topic is cyber security.

Cyber attacks are becoming more and more prevalent and cyber criminals are becoming more and more sophisticated. As a result, you must ensure prevention and mitigation measures are in place to protect their systems.

Society has become very reliant upon the internet for day-to-day activities. Have you ever considered how your life would be affected if there was a large-scale attack that disrupted many systems? Although the likelihood is minimal, a complete internet outage could have significant impacts. Banking and communication systems, and critical infrastructure such as electricity, water supply and emergency services, could be impacted.

Be prepared:

• Identify a meeting place for your family in the event you cannot communicate by cell phone or texting. 
• Have a supply of cash available. 
• Ensure you keep hard copies of important documents, such as medical records and insurance policies, and ensure they are stored in a fire and/or waterproof vault. 
• Have hard copies of important contact information for family, friends, doctors, etc. 

More Information:

• Information for Individuals
• Information for Small/Medium Businesses
• Information for Government Institutions 

It’s Emergency Preparedness Week and today’s topic is a hazardous materials incident.

Brockton roadways are common routes for the transportation of hazardous goods. For the most part, hazardous materials are transported safely.

Plus, several businesses and industries within Brockton have hazardous materials on site.

A hazardous material release is defined as the uncontrolled release of a chemical, either as a solid, liquid or gas.

The Municipality of Brockton has plans to prepare for and respond to an incident involving an accident or a spill of a hazardous material. This ensures a quick and efficient response and recovery.

Transportation companies, businesses and organizations have legal responsibilities to ensure that hazardous goods are transported, stored and used safely. But accidents do happen.

In the event of a hazardous material release, safety precautions will be put into place for those living in the area. If there is an incident, follow these steps:

• Stay away from the area. 
• Monitor a trusted news source for messaging from your municipality and/or first responders. 
• You may be asked to shelter in place – ensure all your windows and doors are closed. Follow any other instructions provided.  Stay inside your home until advised by authorities that it is safe to go outside.
• A perimeter may be established by first responders. 
• For safety reasons, you could be asked to evacuate your home. Take your emergency kit with you. If you are evacuated, the municipality will identify an evacuation centre you can go to. 

A hazardous material spill will likely require specialized resources to be called in to ensure a safe response and recovery. This can take time. Having your emergency kit and plan with you will help alleviate some concerns while you remain away from your home.

More information on preparing an Emergency Kit: www.brucecounty.on.ca/getprepared.