COLD LAKE - On May 8, the Cold Lake and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) hosted an Emergency Preparedness event at the FCSS building, bringing together residents and emergency response teams to enhance the community's resilience and readiness for emergencies.
The event ran from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., drawing attendance and engagement from the community.
The event, organized as part of Emergency Preparedness Week, aimed to increase residents' capacity to be resilient in the event of disasters or emergencies. Attendees had the chance to meet and interact with Cold Lake Fire Rescue (CLFR) members, who were on-site to offer guidance and support.
According to Jeff Fallow, Fire Chief and Manager of Protective Services with the City of Cold Lake, "We've been meeting regularly, especially now with the wildland [fire] season coming upon us. The idea of this event is just to remind people that we can prepare ahead of time so if we ever come to your house and ask you to evacuate, you have things ready."
The event featured various activities, including a barbecue, resources on how to put together 72-hour kits, and special activities for children, such as a "sorting game" and a "put the fire out" game.
The Family Connections Centre provided a space for kids to dress up as community helpers, adding a fun and educational element to the event, according to the City of Cold Lake.
Chief Fallow highlighted the importance of planning for different types of emergencies, noting, "It could be floods, it could be all kinds of things we plan for. We do a risk assessment on the community... And different things get activated."
He also mentioned upcoming events like the Cold Lake airshow, which require extensive pre-planning due to the large number of visitors and potential traffic challenges.
Emergency preparedness involves taking simple steps to ensure safety and comfort during emergencies. The City of Cold Lake recommends having enough supplies on hand to last at least 72 hours, including food, water, medications, and important documents. It is also crucial to have a plan for pets and to know what to do in case of evacuation.
"Emergency preparedness should occur all the time,” said Fallow, but the Emergency Preparedness week creates an extra opportunity to spread the word.
The event also offered resources for families with young children, including colouring books and fire prevention materials. The goal was to ensure that everyone, regardless of age, could engage with the topic of emergency preparedness.
Wildland fires a focus
The event's focus on wildland fires reflects a growing concern in the province due to recent events.
"The biggest questions we're getting now are on wildland fires because they're so prevalent around the province and what happened last year, there's a sensitivity around them," said Fallow. He advised residents to ensure that their emergency kits and personal effects are ready, as evacuations can happen with little notice.
Community collaboration plays a key role in emergency preparedness.
"I know the City here, we're part of a Northeast Regional Incident Management Team group, so we meet regularly with Bonnyville, St. Paul, Lloydminster is part of it, Fort Mcmurray is in it, and we train together as well, so that if we had to go help them in a situation, we'd know some of the people and we'd have the skill sets required,” explained Fallow.
