Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week 2013: Get Prepared. The following message was received from Public Safety Canada: Emergency Preparedness Week, Day By Day Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week, May 5-11, 2013) is a great time to get prepared for any kind of emergency. This means being ready to cope for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency while emergency workers help those in urgent need. Think about a major storm, flood, or chemical spill. This type of disaster could affect water supply, cut electricity and phone service for days. What would you do to keep you and your family safe? Being prepared can make this type of situation less stressful for you and your family. Here are some ideas that will help you do something every day, so that by the end of EP Week, you’ll be better prepared for whatever comes your way. Day 1: Check out the new e-book on GetPrepared.ca. This Government of Canada website includes information, links, checklists, videos and more. New this year is an e-book version of the Emergency Preparedness Guide. Download a copy now for your e-reader so you have this useful information at your fingertips Day 2: Sign up for Safety Tips. Public Safety Canada emails monthly safety tips about emergency preparedness to subscribers. They’re also posted on GetPrepared.ca. Already signed up? Send safety tip sign-up information to a friend! Day 3: Check out your supplies at home. Do you have a flashlight? Extra batteries? Have a look at our emergency kit list, and pick up a few more supplies or a container to keep them in one place. Trying to find a flashlight in the dark during a power outage is not exactly fun! Day 4: Talk to your kids about emergencies. Your kids might be wondering what you’re up to as you assemble emergency supplies. Take a few minutes and involve them in your planning. Talk to children about different kinds of emergencies, show them our videos, and get the conversation going. Day 5: Check out the Canadian Disaster Database. Want to know what disasters have happened in your region over the years? Knowing what can happen is a good first step to preparedness. Day 6: Make a Plan. It takes only a few minutes, but can bring peace of mind. What would you do if there’s an emergency in your neighbourhood and your family isn’t together? Where will you meet if your cell phones don’t work? You can complete a plan online at GetPrepared.ca. Day 7: Spread the word! Follow us on Twitter to stay connected throughout the year, and share our videos with your family and friends. And finally, give yourself a pat on the back. You just took some quick and easy–but very important–steps to being more prepared. And you helped make Canada’s 18th Emergency Preparedness Week a success! For more information on EP Week 2013 please click here to view the earlier post from Emergency Management Ontario.