CK places third at The Emergency Preparedness Challenge

The results are in and the Municipality of Chatham-Kent has finished in third place in Ontario as part of the on-line Emergency Preparedness Challenge! Emergency Management Ontario conducted the on-line “Take the Challenge” contest during the month of May. Residents of all ages across the province were asked to log on and answer questions on personal and family emergency preparedness.

First place went to Kingston, followed by Guelph, Chatham-Kent, Brampton, Sudbury, St. Catharines, Burlington, Markham, Oakville and Barrie. Participation rates were compared with all other communities in Ontario with a population over 100,000.

Barbara Roe, a local resident of Wallaceburg Ontario, is one of 6,332 province-wide entries and is the only prize winner from the Chatham-Kent area. She wins a Cineplex Movie Package sponsored by the Insurance Bureau of Canada.

Commenting on the competition, Rick Bartolucci, Ontario’s Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, said, “The provincial Emergency Preparedness Week Preparedness Challenge was a tremendous success, with thousands of Ontarians showing their commitment to emergency preparedness. Being prepared is everyone’s responsibility, and it begins at home. By taking a few simple steps you are helping to ensure you can be self-sufficient during the initial hours of an emergency.”

“Bravo to the citizens of Chatham-Kent! Emergencies can happen at any time and occur anywhere, sometimes without much warning,” said Chatham-Kent-Essex MPP Pat Hoy. “Although Ontario has effective emergency management legislation and programs, individuals and families 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 families prepare a plan.”

“We are practical people who believe in planning,” said Chatham-Kent Mayor Randy Hope, “and the contest results bear that out. On behalf of Council, I would like to thank every citizen who took part in the Emergency Preparedness Challenge for helping to raise community awareness about the importance of being prepared.”

Emergency Management Ontario coordinated this contest and other activities across the province with all ministries, participating municipalities, the federal government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector to increase awareness about individual and family preparedness.

Emergencies are not predictable and can happen anywhere and at anytime; however you can be prepared, by preparing for one today. One important step is to prepare an emergency survival kit for you and your family. It should contain the basic items needed to remain comfortable and safe for at least three days or 72 hours immediately after or during an emergency. For a listing of the contents of a 72 hour emergency preparedness kit and for more information on emergency preparedness, log onto www.ontario.ca/beprepared or www.chatham-kent.ca.