Families, individuals need emergency plan, supplies, Lasalle fire chief says

Preparing for any emergency situation takes time and planning but Lasalle’s fire chief says it is invaluable for keeping individuals and families safe, especially during a sudden crisis.

“Recent events in the last number of years have highlighted the need for residents to be prepared at any time for unusual circumstances,” Chief Dave Sutton said. “As we’ve seen incidents unfold, some of them are very rapid and sudden and require a quick reaction time and very little time to get prepared.

“And others, such as COVID, are a little slower events in the initial stages, but of course can have quite a duration.”

It’s recommended that a survival kit be put together containing essential items needed for at least 72 hours. The kit should be portable and placed in a backpack or suitcase.

“Really put some thought into the items each individual may require,” Sutton said. “That kit will certainly look different from one individual, one family to the next. It’s critically important to have that ready and know where to access those items.”

Sutton said the contents should be checked twice a year to ensure the freshness of food and water.

He also suggested making copies of important documents and leaving them in a safe location like a safety deposit box. Also, create a list of emergency phone numbers — like insurance and utility contacts or the family doctor.

Sutton said summer can bring severe weather and flooding is of particular concern right now for many areas of Windsor and Essex County.

“I think each of the municipalities now, and most certainly in Lasalle, have an alert system that individuals can subscribe to for municipal emergency information,” he said. “It’s always a good idea, too, with all the phone apps, to subscribe to some of the severe weather alerting apps such as Environment Canada or your favourite weather app.”

During an emergency, stay tuned to local news channels and social media. Be sure to have a portable, battery-operated or crank radio in the survival kit in case of power outages.

Finally, consider that your family may not be together or you may be asked to evacuate your home, Sutton said.

When preparing an emergency plan, include details on how to contact family members via telephone, text messaging and social media or an out-of-town contact so that everyone in the family can share information through a contact person.

Because of COVID -19, local shelters may not be accessible. Sutton said you should have somewhere safe to go — and don’t forget about a plan for your pets.

That kit will certainly look different from one individual, one family to the next.