Citizens and businesses of our community also have roles to play. By doing a few basic things to prepare yourself, your family, and your business, you can help us become a prepared community. The more planning you do before a disaster, the better you will be able to cope during an emergency.
Whether to protect your family or your business, you need to take some time to consider the risks that we all face and take the right measures to protect what is important to you. Families can be prepared by planning and working together as a team. Before you begin developing your family emergency and disaster plan, take a few moments to consider the possible emergency situations or potential disasters you could face. These are situations and events that could impact you, your family or your community. Your best protection in any emergency or disaster is in knowing what to do.
In Burlington, it is a good idea to be prepared for these kinds of emergencies:
Talk to your family members to get their help to create an action plan you and your family can follow to help reduce the possible effects of any emergency. Involve all family members in the planning process, so that they know what to expect, as well as what to do when an emergency strikes. Regularly talk about and update your plan.
Gather supplies you might need if stuck at home or evacuated due to an emergency. Items you will need in an evacuation should be stored in an easy-to-use container such as a backpack or duffle bag.
For more information, download the Emergency Preparedness Guide.
For a printed copy of the Emergency Preparedness Guide, please fill out the request form and a copy will be mailed out to you.
Questions or comments about Emergency Preparedness? Contact the Community Emergency Management Coordinator at cemc@burlington.ca
The Basics |
Not everyone may be able to have a full emergency kit, but everyone should try to have the basics on hand:
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Personal Emergency Preparedness |
You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for up to three days in the event of an emergency or disaster. It is a good idea to have an emergency kit for both your home and vehicle. An emergency kit should contain at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food and at least four litres of water per day per person. Items to include in an emergency kit
Additional items your family may need
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During an emergency, knowing what to do will help you stay safe and in better control of the situation.
Emergency Shelter-in-place |
If there is an emergency from a spill or a fire from a hazardous spill you may be evacuated or be advised to "shelter-in-place". "Shelter-in-place" means that you must stay indoors when there is hazardous material in the air. You should move out of the way of smoke or fumes and stay indoors. DO NOT go through smoke or fumes. Staying inside a building or vehicle can reduce your exposure to 10 per cent. Here's how to stay safe during a spill or fumes:
Leave your home and evacuate only if you are told to do so and stay away from any spills or fires. Listen to the advice of local officials on the radio or television to know what steps you will need to take to protect yourself. |
Emergency Evacuation |
During some emergencies, it may be necessary to evacuate the emergency and surrounding area. An emergency evacuation centre may be set up to offer shelter and food to people affected by the emergency. If there were a need to be evacuated, you would be notified by media announcements, social media or emergency workers.
A reception centre may be set up to offer food, shelter and information to people affected by an emergency. If you are going somewhere other than the reception centre, let the reception centre or municipal government know of your location. |
After an Emergency |
Right after an emergency, you may feel worried , confused and disoriented. These are perfectly normal reactions. If you are informed and prepared, you will be able to recover more quickly and you can help others do the same. The following steps will help you get back on track: Help the injured Check on your neighbours Be informed Web: www.burlington.ca Try not to use the telephone Check your home Remember the following points:
Remember, if you turn off the gas, a professional from the gas company should turn it back on. |
Not all emergencies are the same. Look through our summary guides below to prepare for specific emergencies
Power Outage |
Turn everything off
Use a flashlight
Generators Generators are an option for backup electricity, however:
Alert: Using food when the power goes off
Alert: Cooking without electricity
Winter Power Failure: If a power outage leaves you without heat for some time, your pipes could freeze or burst. Here are a few tips to prevent this:
If you have a septic tank, antifreeze could cause damage to it. Make sure you pump the chemical from the plumbing fixtures and pipes before they are refilled with water. Energy Conservation Recommendations Conserve power to help avoid a brownout / blackout. The power industry recommends:
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Severe Winter Storm |
Severe winter storms can cause widespread damage and disruption. Heavy snow often causes the slowing or shutting down of public transit, car accidents and stranded vehicles. When a winter storm has strong winds and extreme cold, snow can isolate entire communities. Bitter cold and severe winter storms kill more than 100 people in Canada every year. That is more than the number of Canadians killed by tornadoes, thunderstorms, lightning, floods, hurricanes and heat waves combined. Ice storms are often winter's worst danger. The severity of ice storms depends on the buildup of ice, the length of the event, and the location and size of the area affected. During a blizzard, winds can blow snow into drifts that can bury people, animals and belongings. The weight of heavy snowfall can also cause the collapse of buildings. A blizzard that lasts a long time may form whiteouts, where so much snow falls it is hard to tell the ground from the sky. If you are indoors
If you are outdoors
If you are in a vehicle
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Severe Lightning Storm |
Thunderstorms bring a wide range of threats. These include hail, lightning, strong winds and heavy rainfall. All of these dangers can result in property damage, injuries or deaths. React right away when you first see lightning, hear thunder or are given some other warning. There are a few simple precautions that you can take to protect yourself If you are indoors
If you are outdoors
If you are in a vehicle
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Flood or Flash Flood |
What is a flash flood? Flash floods happen when intense thunderstorms drop a large amount of water in a short time. Flash floods occur with little or no warning. When there is flooding in a city, streets can become swiftly-moving rivers and basements can fill with water. If you are indoors
If you are outdoors
If you are in a vehicle
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Tornado |
Tornadoes result from hot, humid weather meeting a cold front. With these conditions, a tornado could be imminent. A funnel cloud hanging from a dark cloud may appear before the tornado actually occurs. A tornado may be accompanied by lightning, high winds and hail. If you are indoors
If you are outdoors
If you are in a vehicle
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Infectious Disease Outbreak |
In case of a respiratory (airborne) infectious disease outbreak, the most important thing to do is to listen to the radio and follow recommendations to prevent and contain the spread of the disease. Respiratory infections are generally spread by small droplets in the air that can stay on surfaces. To prevent the spread:
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The City of Burlington has plans and programs to protect the community during emergencies. In partnership with local first responders, health organizations, social services, utilities and volunteer groups, the City is always working to be prepared. We do this through testing, training and updating the emergency plans and programs to make sure we are ready for any emergency that happens in our community.
No matter how prepared we are, we can't predict an emergency or disaster, but we can all take steps to reduce the impact of any situation that comes our way.
Section 2.1 of the Provincial Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMCPA) requires municipalities to develop and implement an emergency management program and adopt it through a by-law. The City of Burlington has a formal Community Emergency Management Program to deal with major emergencies.
City of Burlington's Emergency Management Bylaw - Read the City of Burlington's emergency plan [PDF]
Municipal Emergency Management Program Committee |
The Municipal Emergency Management Program Committee manages and makes sure the city's Emergency Management Program is carried out. Not only does this help us prepare for emergencies but it also meets the requirements of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act and Ontario Regulation 380/04. This says that municipalities must perform specified activities at least once a year to meet legislated standards.The Emergency Management Program sets up a continuous improvement process to develop, implement, maintain and evaluate emergency management and ongoing operations programs that talk to prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery that meet and go beyond the requirements of regulation 380/04. |
Municipal Emergency Management Team |
City staff members from key areas work together on the Municipal Emergency Management Team to deal with community emergencies and disasters. In the event of a community emergency, the Municipal Emergency Management Team meets at the City's Emergency Operations Centre, where the emergency is strategically managed to help the on-scene emergency responders. The City has community emergency plans and procedures and provides emergency training and exercises on a regular basis so all members of the City's Municipal Emergency Management Team are fully trained and able to deal with emergency and disaster situations. The City of Burlington's Emergency Response Plan outlines roles and responsibilities of the Municipal Emergency Management Team and essential services to make sure they are provided to the community throughout an emergency or disaster. This also includes a public education program to help you and your neighbours prepare your family for emergencies and disasters. |
Emergency Planning Resources |
Here are some resources to help you plan and keep connected during an emergency: |