Emergency Preparedness

Now is a great time to refresh your 72-hour emergency kit. Ensure you replace anything you may have used or depleted during the last storm event.

The Municipality of West Perth is committed to providing a safe community for its residents thanks to the professionalism and dedication of our emergency service agencies.
Perth County Emergency Management Website

Emergency Response

The Emergency Management program is unified, covering the County and its four member municipalities on a shared services basis. A vital aspect of the county's program is public education and awareness.

If the municipality needs additional assistance or resources, they can call on provincial/territorial emergency management organizations, who can seek assistance from the federal government if the emergency escalates beyond their capabilities. Depending on the situation, federal assistance could include policing, national defence and border security, and environmental and health protection.

Requests for assistance are managed through Public Safety Canada, which maintains close operational links with the provinces and territories. It can take just a few minutes for the response to move from the local to the national level, ensuring that the right resources and expertise are identified and triggered.

Perth County Emergency Response Plan

The County of Perth is responsible for providing land ambulance services to all residents of the County of Perth, including those in the Town of St. Marys and the City of Stratford. The Perth County Paramedic Services provides 24-hour emergency and non-emergency pre-hospital medical care and transportation to individuals experiencing injury or illness.

Perth County Paramedic Services is committed to providing the highest level of pre-hospital Paramedic services to our community. We are also committed to providing our paramedics with the training and knowledge to provide the best in professional Basic Life Support in Paramedic Services:

24 hours per day
Primary Care Paramedics (PCP) will be certified according to the current legislation and regulations
On-site staffed ambulance response time of 2 minutes
Provide sufficient staffing comprised of full and part-time Primary Care Paramedics to staff 6-7 ambulances, 24 hours per day; where operationally possible
Each Emergency Response Vehicle responding to a request shall be staffed with at least one person qualified as a PCP under the legislation and regulations
Each ambulance responding to a request for service is staffed with at least one Primary Care Paramedic and one EMA qualified as per the legislation
Have sufficient PCP qualified staff to meet the Deployment and Utilization Strategy 2.0 Scope

Police services in the Municipality of West Perth are provided by the Ontario Provincial Police through a contract with the Municipality.

The West Perth Police Services Board oversees the provision of police services including law enforcement and crime prevention in the Municipality of West Perth which contract with the OPP.

Citizen Self-Reporting

The OPP have designed a citizen self reporting system which allows you to submit a report from your computer without going to an OPP detachment. All submissions will be reviewed by an officer, and you may be contacted to provide additional information. You must have a valid e-mail address in order to submit a report.

Note: The OPP are also empowered to enforce Municipal By-laws within the Municipality of West Perth.

If this is an emergency, please call 911

Emergency Preparedness

72 Hours - Is Your Family Prepared?

If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.

Environment Canada's Emergency Preparedness Guide

The County of Perth's Emergency Management Plan

The EMP plan outlines how the County and its emergency response agencies coordinate themselves to respond to and help the County recover from a large scale emergency. It outlines the roles, responsibilities, procedures and guidelines that will be followed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of the County of Perth residents.
Community Preparedness Information - Perth County

County of Perth Emergency Management Plan

Knowing the risks in your region can help you better prepare. Across Canada, we face a number of hazards, such as earthquakes in British Columbia, blizzards in Nunavut, and tornadoes in Ontario.
In addition to natural disasters, there are other types of risks such as power outages and industrial or transportation accidents.

What are the risks in Perth County?

Consider risks that might be around you. Are you on the flood plain? Is there an arena or food processor with ammonia close by? Is the railroad or highway nearby that dangerous goods travel on?

Potential risks include:

Severe weather or meteorological events (hail)
Major accidents
Infrastructure failures (hydro, water)
Disease outbreaks
Intentional acts

An emergency plan will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency.

It only takes 20 minutes to complete a personalized plan online. You can then print it out. Most of this information can be filled out on your own. You may need to get some information from your Municipality.

The Canadian Red Cross' Emergency Planning Sheets

To fill out your home emergency plan, you should consider:

Safe exits from home and neighborhood;
- Home exit plan, consider second story and basement exits.
Meeting places to reunite with family or roommates;
- Safe place near your home.
- Safe place outside your immediate neighborhood.
- Evacuation route from your neighborhood.
Designated person to pick up children should you be unavailable;
Contact persons close-by and out-of-town;
Special health needs;
Plans for your pets or livestock;
- Add your pet's special needs in your emergency kit.
- Create a plan for evacuation or shelter-in-place plan for livestock.
Risks in your region;
Location of your fire extinguisher, water valve, electrical box, gas valve and floor drain;
Keep this document in an easy to find, easy to remember place (for example, with your emergency kit). Photocopy this plan and keep it in your car and/or at work.

Complete your emergency plan online today!

In an emergency, you will need basic supplies at the ready. Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in your home knows where it is.

Keep it in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front hall closet.

In addition to the 72 hour kit, consider other kits for seniors/special needs, your pets or livestock, your vehicle, and having a grab and go bag in case you have to leave your home on short notice.

View a full list of what to include in your emergency kit to help you prepare yours.

Scouts Canada’s free Emergency Ready program, through the support of Hydro One, offers youth and families tips, checklists and skills to prepare for safe response to potential hazards and conditions at home or in the community.

Through Emergency Ready, gain the confidence and skills to prepare, take action, and stay safe in a variety of emergency and unexpected situations, from extreme weather to household accidents, to protecting yourself and others during an emergency.

Through engaging on-line resources and hands-on activities, youth and their families will learn how to create emergency plans and kits for a variety of scenarios, identify hazards, what actions to prioritize in a crisis, how to safely assist others, basic first aid, recognize and treat shock symptoms, and more.

More information is available at Scouts.ca/EmergencyReady where you’ll find:

a Checklist to create an emergency kit,
an Emergency contact checklist,
a Safety Tip for emergencies, and
other relevant emergency ready resources

Car Winter Survival Kit

Be prepared for winter driving and always keep a winter survival kit in your car. Kits should include:

charged phone
water
non-perishable food
flashlight
blanket and warm clothes
jumper cables
shovel
traction mats or sand
candles and a lighter or matches

“The winter months can pose significant challenges for drivers. Before heading out, I encourage everyone to check Ontario 511. It has many winter safety features and provides drivers with near real-time highway and traffic information so they can plan ahead,” said Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation. “Remember to slow down and drive according to weather and road conditions. Together, we can keep Ontario’s highways safe for everyone this winter.”

Emergency Mitigation

Perth County Winter Sever Weather Guide

Tips for Disaster or Emergency Readiness

Using Technology During a Disaster

We rely on technology more and more to keep in touch with our family, friends, and colleagues with a click of a button. But what happens in the event of a major emergency? Suddenly these tools can become vital in helping you and your family deal get in touch and stay informed. So here are some tips on the use of technology in an emergency:

If possible, use non-voice channels like text messaging, email or social media. These use less bandwidth than voice communications and may work even when phone service doesn’t.
If you must use a phone, keep your conversation brief and convey only vital information to emergency personnel and/or family. This will also conserve your phone’s battery.
Unable to complete a call? Wait 10 seconds before redialing to help reduce network congestion. Note, cordless phones rely on electricity and will not work during a power outage. If you have a landline, keep at least one corded phone in your home.
Keep a charger for your mobile device in your emergency kit. Consider getting a solar-powered, crank, or vehicle phone charger. If you don’t have a cell phone, keep a prepaid phone card in your emergency kit.
Keep your contacts up to date on your phone, email and other channels. This will make it easier to reach important contacts, such as friends, family, neighbours, child’s school, or insurance agent.
If you have a smartphone, save your safe meeting location(s) on its mapping application.
Conserve your smartphone’s battery by reducing the screen’s brightness, placing your phone in airplane mode, and closing apps you are not using. You never know how long a power outage will last!

Remember, in an emergency or to save a life, call 9-1-1 for help. You cannot currently text 9-1-1. If you are not experiencing an emergency, do not call 9-1-1. If your area offers 3-1-1 service or another information system, call that number for non-emergencies.

Emergency Preparedness for Farms

Make sure every animal has durable and visible identification and that you have proof of ownership for all animals.
Reinforce your house, barn, and outbuildings with hurricane straps and other measures. Perform regular safety inspections on all utilities, buildings, and facilities on your farm.
If possible, remove all barbed wire and consider re-routing permanent fencing, so that animals may move to high ground in a flood and to low-lying areas during high winds.
Identify alternate water and power sources. A generator with a safely stored supply of fuel may be essential, especially if you have milking equipment or other electrical equipment necessary to the well being of your animals. Generators should be tested regularly to be sure they will work when needed.
Install a hand pump and obtain enough large containers to water your animals for at least a week. Be aware that municipal water supplies and wells may be contaminated during an emergency.
Properly plug any abandoned water wells on the site. The exact method for this varies according to provincial/territorial regulations. Regardless of method, the intent is to prevent contaminated water from entering the groundwater. Production wells should also be checked to see that they are secure from flood waters. It may be necessary to decontaminate wells after a flood.
Secure or remove anything that could become blowing debris; make a habit of securing trailers, propane tanks, and other large objects. If you have feed troughs or other large containers, fill them with water before any high wind event. This prevents them from blowing around and also provides an additional supply of water.
If you use heat lamps or other electrical machinery, make sure the wiring is safe and that any heat source is clear of flammable debris.
Label hazardous materials and place them all in the same safe area. Provide local fire, rescue and emergency management authorities with information about the location of any hazardous materials on your property.
Remove old buried trash—a potential source of hazardous materials during flooding that may leech into crops, feed supplies, water sources, and pasture.
If there is a threat of flooding, ensure that in-ground manure pits or cisterns are kept at least half full of water of other liquid to ensure that they are not damaged or “floated” by rising groundwater.
Chemicals should be stored in secured areas, preferably on high ground and/or on shelving off the ground. These areas should be protected so that chemical spills will not result in any runoff or seepage.

Ensure that the electricity on the farm (typically on a power pole into the farm) is turned off.

Make an emergency kit so you have emergency supplies in one location, and let everyone know where it is. Check and update contents regularly. Include the following items and personalize according to your needs:

Current list of all animals, including their location and records of feeding, vaccinations, and tests. Make this information available at various locations on the farm.
Supplies for temporary identification of your animals, such as plastic neckbands and permanent markers to label animals with your name, address, and telephone number.
Basic first aid kit.
Handling equipment such as halters, cages, blankets, and appropriate tools for each kind of animal. Include bolt-cutters to quickly free animals in an emergency.
Water, feed, and buckets. Tools and supplies needed for sanitation.
Emergency equipment such as a cell phone, flashlights, portable radios (with weather radio band) and/or Weatheradio, and batteries. Know the weather radio broadcast frequencies and local weather information telephone numbers.
Other safety and emergency items for your vehicles and trailers.
Food, water, and emergency supplies for your family.

For more information on emergency preparedness, visit GetPrepared.ca, call 1 800 0-Canada or follow us on Twitter @Get_Prepared.

For more information on emergency response where animals are implicated in natural or human-induced disasters, visit the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association website at: www.canadianveterinarians.net

This content was developed by Public Safety Canada in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Environment Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association and the provinces and territories.

Flooding in West Perth

Floods are the most frequent natural hazards in Canada, and the most costly in terms of property damage. Floods can occur in any region, in the countryside or in cities. In the past, floods have affected hundreds of thousands of Canadians. They can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of a thick snow pack, ice jams, or more rarely, the failure of a natural or human-made dam.

All Canadian rivers experience flooding at one time or another. The potential for flood damage is particularly high where there is development on low-lying, flood-prone lands.

Flash or sudden flooding, in which warning time is extremely limited, can result from other causes such as hurricanes, violent rainstorms, or the bursting of dams.

Though all levels of government are working to reduce the impact of floods, individuals also play an important role. Everyone has a responsibility to protect their homes and their families.

You can greatly lessen the impact of a flood by taking the time to prepare in advance. This involves three basic steps:

Find out what to do before, during, and after a flood.
Make a family emergency plan, so that everyone knows what to do, and where to go in case of an emergency.
Get an emergency kit, so that you and your family can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours during a flood.

Planning for a flood will also help prepare you for many other types of emergencies.

To reduce the likelihood of flood damage

Put weather protection sealant around basement windows and the base of ground-level doors.
Install the drainage for downspouts a sufficient distance from your residence to ensure that water moves away from the building.
Consider installing a sump pump and zero reverse flow valves in basement floor drains.
Do not store your important documents in the basement. Keep them at a higher level, protected from flood damage.

If a flood is forecast

Turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve.
Take special precautions to safeguard electrical, natural gas or propane heating equipment.
If there is enough time, consult your electricity or fuel supplier for instructions on how to proceed.
Shut off the electricity only if flooding has not yet begun and the area around the fuse box is completely dry. Stand to the side of the breaker panel and look away from the panel when switching the power off. Have a flashlight with you.

If flooding is imminent

Move furniture, electrical appliances and other belongings to floors above ground level.
Remove toxic substances such as pesticides and insecticides from the flood area to prevent pollution.
Remove toilet bowls and plug basement sewer drains and toilet connections with a wooden stopper.
Disconnect eavestroughs if they are connected to the house sewer.
In some cases, homes may be protected with sandbags or polyethylene barriers. Follow instructions from local emergency officials.
Do NOT attempt to shut off electricity if any water is present. Water and live electrical wires can be lethal. Leave your home immediately and do not return until authorities indicate it is safe to do so.

Listen to the radio to find out what areas are affected, what roads are safe, where to go and what to do if the local emergency team asks you to leave your home.

Keep your emergency kit close at hand, in a portable container such as a duffel bag, backpack, or suitcase with wheels.

If you need to evacuate

Vacate your home when you are advised to do so by local emergency authorities. Ignoring such a warning could jeopardize the safety of your family or those who might eventually have to come to your rescue.
Take your emergency kit with you.
Follow the routes specified by officials. Don't take shortcuts. They could lead you to a blocked or dangerous area.
Make arrangements for pets.
Time permitting, leave a note informing others when you left and where you went. If you have a mailbox, leave the note there.

Never cross a flooded area

If you are on foot, fast water could sweep you away.
If you are in a car, do not drive through flood waters or underpasses. The water may be deeper than it looks and your car could get stuck or swept away by fast water.
Avoid crossing bridges if the water is high and flowing quickly.
If you are caught in fast-rising waters and your car stalls, leave it and save yourself and your passengers.

Re-entering your home

Do not return home until authorities have advised that it is safe to do so.
If the main power switch was not turned off prior to flooding, do not re-enter your home until a qualified electrician has determined it is safe to do so.
Use extreme caution when returning to your home after a flood.
Appliances that may have been flooded pose a risk of shock or fire when turned on. Do not use any appliances, heating, pressure, or sewage system until electrical components have been thoroughly cleaned, dried, and inspected by a qualified electrician.
The main electrical panel must be cleaned, dried, and tested by a qualified electrician to ensure that it is safe.
Depending on where you live, your municipal or the provincial inspection authority is responsible for the permitting process required before your electric utility can reconnect power to your home.

Ensure building safety

Make sure the building is structurally safe.
Look for buckled walls or floors.
Watch for holes in the floor, broken glass and other potentially dangerous debris.

Water

Flood water can be heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants. It can cause sickness and infections.
If your house has been flooded and you have a well, don't drink the water. Have it tested first.
Household items that have been flood-damaged will have to be discarded according to local regulations.

Documentation

Store all valuable papers that have been damaged in a freezer until needed. (After your cleanup, consult your lawyer to determine whether flood-damaged documents, or just the information in them, must be retained).
Record details of flood damage by photograph or video, if possible.
Register the amount of damage to your home with your insurance immediately.

Municipality of West Perth
160 Wellington Street
P.O. Box 609
Mitchell, ON N0K 1N0
Phone: 519-348-8429