Community Preparedness Information
On this page, you will be able to get information, guides and safety tips to help you get prepared. This content will be regularly updated to ensure we are offering a wide variety of products aimed at helping our communities know the risks and get prepared for emergencies. Our publications can be downloaded and printed from this page.
On this page:
Click the links below to quickly navigate to each section:
- Your Community Preparedness Guide
- Three Steps to Emergency Preparedness
- Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities/Special Needs
- Ontario Seniors: How to be Prepared for an Emergency
- Emergency Preparedness for Farm Animals
- Winter Severe Weather: How to Stay Safe in Snowstorms
- Summer Severe Weather
- Flooding
- What is the difference between a Weather Watch and a Warning?
Your Community Preparedness Guide
If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. Learn how quick and easy it is to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies anytime, anywhere. Use the Emergency Preparedness Guide to create your own emergency plan. Use the checklists to build a 72-hour emergency kit. These basic steps will help you take care of yourself and your loved ones during an emergency.
- Click here for a downloadable PDF of the Emergency Preparedness Guide
Three Steps to Emergency Preparedness
The Three Steps to Emergency Preparedness is a fold-out brochure summarizing the three steps you need to take to help you and your family prepare for an emergency: Know the Risks, Make a Plan, Get a Kit.
- Click here for a downloadable PDF of the fold-out brochure
Emergency Preparedness for People with Disabilities/Special Needs
Emergencies can occur suddenly and without advance warning. Although Ontario has effective emergency management legislation and programs, individuals and households play a vital role in preparing for times of crisis when emergency services and other government resources may be strained. It is important that individuals and any members of their household prepare to be self-reliant for at least three (3) days during or immediately after an emergency.
- This guide provides emergency preparedness considerations and advice for the estimated 2.6 million Ontarians with disabilities.
- This guide provides information on preparing an emergency plan and kit for people with disabilities/special needs and for caregivers.
Ontario Seniors: How to be Prepared for an Emergency
preparedness applies to all Ontarians, but there are considerations to keep in mind for those who may need extra attention or care during an emergency.
- This guide is designed for seniors, their caregivers, and members of their extended network. Emergency
Emergency Preparedness for Farm Animals
Do you know how to protect your farm animals from risks posed by natural disasters, including collapsed barns, freezing weather, flooding, dehydration, and electrocution? From barn fires to hazardous materials spills to natural disasters, emergency situations often call for special measures to shelter, care for, or transport farm pets, livestock, and poultry.
Safeguard your animals, your property and your business by taking precautions now, no matter what the risks are in your area. Additional information and assistance can be provided by your veterinarian.
Severe Winter Weather: How to Stay Safe in Snowstorms
Perth County is no stranger to a wide range of weather conditions, which could differ based on where you are at any given time.
- Click here to read our Winter Severe Weather Guide. Hard copies are available at your local municipal office.
Severe Summer Weather
Click the links below for more information about staying safe in severe summer weather:
- Severe Summer Weather
- Extreme Heat
- Severe Storms (Thunderstorms, Lightning, Hail)
- Tornadoes
- Criteria for public weather alerts
Flooding
Floods are the most frequent natural hazard in Canada. Parts of Perth County are susceptible to flooding during the spring run-off, particularly if there is a combination of heavy rainfall and rapid melting of the winter snow pack.
What is the difference between a Weather Watch and a Warning?
Storm season is rolling in, which means the news will be dominated with weather advisories, watches and warnings. While all these terms cover exceptional weather events, they differ in meaning and severity. It is the responsibility of Environment and Climate Change Canada to issue Advisories, Watches and Warnings.
- Advisories - Weather advisories cover a wide array of deteriorating weather conditions. These bulletins are issued for specific weather events (like blowing snow, fog, freezing drizzle and frost) that are less severe, but could still significantly affect Canadians. They also can be issued preceding watches and warnings — as is the case with funnel cloud advisories — or they can be issued to indicate severe weather in a long-term forecast.
- Watches - Watches are issued when there is the potential for severe weather. Watches alert you about weather conditions where there is potential for the development of significant storms or severe weather. As certainty increases about the path and strength of a storm system, a Watch could be upgraded to a Warning. A Winter Storm Watch is usually issued 18 to 36 hours in advance of the approaching bad weather..
- Warnings - Severe weather is occurring or will occur. These alerts are updated regularly so that you can stay informed and take appropriate action. As an example: A tornado warning would mean a tornado is occurring, has occurred, or is about to occur and those in the area/ region should take cover immediately.
- For Flash Flood type events (50 mm or more in 1 hour or less), Severe Thunderstorm Watches and Warnings will often be issued making special mention of the thunderstorms’ ability to produce short-duration, high-intensity rainfall.