“Ready for Anything: How You Can Prepare for Emergencies This May”

A Message from Cornwall’s Deputy Fire Chief , Leighton Woods

Every year during Emergency Preparedness Week, I like to remind folks that being ready for an emergency doesn’t have to be complicated—but it does have to happen before something goes wrong. This year, from May 4 to 10, we’re encouraging everyone to take a few simple steps that can make a big difference when the unexpected hits.

Around here, we’ve seen our fair share of power outages, flooding, and big storms. These things can happen quickly and with little warning, but what we do ahead of time is what really matters. Take a few minutes to sit down with your family and make a plan. Where would you go if you had to leave your home? Who would you call? It’s important to include everyone in the household-kids, seniors, and don’t forget about your pets.

We also recommend having a 72-hour emergency kit ready. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just practical: bottled water, canned food, a flashlight, extra batteries, important medications, and copies of ID or insurance. A battery-powered radio and a phone charger you can use without electricity are also good to have. You never know how long the power might be out, or when help might arrive.

One of the best tools we have in Cornwall is Rave Mobile Safety. It allows the City to send emergency alerts straight to your phone or email—from weather warnings and road closures to other urgent updates. You can sign up for alerts quickly and easily through our website. If you do one thing this week, I’d recommend signing up—it’s one of the easiest ways to stay informed when it matters most.

Emergency Preparedness Week isn’t about creating fear. It’s about building confidence and making sure we’re looking out for ourselves, our families, and our neighbours. A little planning today can make a tough situation a whole lot easier tomorrow.

Stay safe out there!

Cornwall’s Deputy Fire Chief, Leighton Woods joined Julia and Mai-Liis on the Monday Morning Motivation show to discuss Emergency Preparedness. Check out the show here:

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