This week has been proclaimed Emergency Preparedness Week in Saskatchewan as the government encourages residents to have a plan and supplies in place if a disaster were to strike.

“It is not if an emergency will happen, but when it will happen,” said Duane McKay, Public Safety Division Assistant Deputy Minister.

McKay stated that as Saskatchewan’s Prairie Resilience climate change strategy and resilience framework is helping local governments and communities plan and respond to emergencies, residents as individuals or families also need to take responsibility to be prepared in the case of an emergency.

Whether it was flooding the region experienced last year or the fires that have already ensued this year due to the dry conditions, disasters can strike at a moments notice and you may have no time to gather the necessary items to help get you, your family and pets through the next 72 hours.

McKay said it’s important to plan who you would call and what you would do if you need to evacuate and also to prepare an emergency kit containing:
• water
• non-perishable foods
• flashlight
• batteries
• a radio
• first-aid kit
• prescription medications
• money
• copies of your families personal identification documents

This year, the government has partnered with the Saskatchewan SPCA to bring awareness to planning for emergencies, not only for humans, but for animals as well.

Josh Hourie, Saskatchewan SPCA community relations co-coordinator, said preparing an emergency kit for your pet is also important to ensure their well being, these kits should include:
• food and water for 3 days for each pet
• food and water dishes
• can opener
• per first-aid kit
• crate or carrier with blankets or towels
• toys
• plastic garbage bags
• paper towels and disinfectant
• newspapers, pet litter and a litter box
• for birds – a catch net, blanket or sheet to cover the cage and a cage liner
• for small pets such as gerbils and hamsters – a salt lick, extra water bottle, small box or tube for the pet to hide in and a weeks worth of bedding

Being prepared is necessary in order to weather the storm to the best of your ability, however, communication of such events is also vitally important to give residents as much warning as possible about emergencies that affect them.

Saskatchewan will be participating in the second annual emergency alert test by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC).

The second annual test will be taking place at 1:55 pm on May 8. The test will appear on television, radio and compatible wireless devices and as well, through the SaskAlert app.