The Wentworth Volunteer Fire Department in cooperation with the Municipality of Cumberland and Nova Scotia EMO (Emergency Management Office) recently held a 72 Hour Emergency Preparedness program located at the Wentworth Learning Centre. We came to find out how to be prepared in case of an emergency, what to do if trapped in our homes for 72 hours, and how the Wentworth Comfort Centre works.
Mike Johnson, EMO coordinator for Cumberland County, came as speaker and his enthusiasm and confidence in talking about emergencies had the full attention of the people attending the program. Barbara Palmer, councillor for District 6 in Cumberland County, gave me her report: “The Wentworth Volunteer Fire Department and Mike Johnson ...were at the Learning Centre with information on how to prepare for a disaster and the importance of the first 72 hours. He spoke on how the first respondents evaluate a situation and what plans to put in place to ensure the safety of everyone involved. The first 72 hours are very critical in any disaster. He explained what services in emergency situations are available, how information is relayed to the affected residents and how being prepared can be beneficial to not only yourself but to the emergency response teams. All the community members who attended, including myself, thoroughly enjoyed the presentation and now have the knowledge to prepare an emergency kit of their own.”
I wish to thank Councillor Barbara Palmer for her support and attendance at this program. Her summary of the event is excellent and I will add a few details of Johnson's free style speech which he performed instead of reading from a script. For back-up at intervals, he used a screen to show items from the Canadian Red Cross research.
Some of Johnson's interesting details in his speech follow: know the risks; make a plan; buy an emergency kit and a vehicle emergency kit; in addition to disaster such as earthquakes, blizzards, fires, and tornadoes, there are power outages and industrial or transportation accidents; know what hazards are likely to affect your community; have an emergency calculator; make a household plan; learn about First Aid; make copies of important documents; identify safe places if there is a need to evacuate; know evacuation routes; know what items to take with you on an evacuation notice; know about school and workplace emergency plans; have a plan for pets and service animals; let others know your special needs as regards medication and medical history; know the general neighbourhood safety plan; know contact information of emergency numbers; update emergency plans for necessary evacuation; replace food and water once a year in an emergency kit; stay informed by radio or other forms of communication; when ordered to evacuate, call or e-mail a contact outside the area to tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive.
At the end of his speech. Johnson answered many questions in an expert and enthusiastic manner. Coffee and tea were available, but people still paid attention to his every word. This event was a needed information session thanks to the Wentworth Volunteer Fire Department, the Municipality of Cumberland, the Nova Scotia EMO, Mike Johnson (EMO Coordinator for Cumberland County), Barbara Palmer (attending Councillor for District 6 in Cumberland County), and the Learning Centre for providing the location.
