PETER VAN LOAN PUBLIC SAFETY MINISTER LAUNCHES

TORONTO -- May 1, 2009 Public Safety Minister Peter Van Loan launched Emergency Preparedness Week today at a training demonstration at Toronto Fire Service’s Special Operations Training Centre.

"York-Simcoe has been affected be emergencies in the past", said Van Loan. "The 2003 blackout, the Barrie Tornado in Innisfil, and the flooding from Hurricane Hazel are proof that emergencies do happen here, and families in our community need to plan to cope with them."

As Public Safety Minister, Peter Van Loan is responsible for Canada's Emergency and Disaster Management and Preparedness.

The Minister met with first responders who showcased their capacity to deal with emergencies by providing a hazardous materials (HazMat) emergency simulation. Earlier in the week, Minister Van Loan announced funding of up to $2.5 million over five years to the Canadian arm of the International Association of Fire Fighters for their HazMat training program.

Emergency Preparedness Week runs from May 3 – 9, 2009. It is an annual event to promote the importance of emergency preparedness across Canada. It is a collaborative event undertaken by many, with hundreds of activities occurring in communities across Canada.

Emergency Preparedness Week focuses on what Canadians can do to prepare for emergencies like flooding or a severe storm. Canadians are encouraged to take three simple steps:

Know the risks in their area
Make a family emergency plan
Get an emergency kit

“Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. Governments at all levels are working hard to keep Canadians safe, but everyone has a role to play. Do your part this week by taking stock of your supplies and making sure they meet your family’s needs. That way, when an emergency does happen, you’ll be better prepared and can minimize the impact on you and your loved ones.”

This year, new materials are available to help Canadians better prepare:

A short animated video, “Preparing a Family Emergency Kit in Plain English.” A checklist you can use to assemble or buy emergency kit items. An updated Emergency Preparedness Guide. More than 2.5M of these guides have been distributed since the campaign was launched in 2006. Learn more by visiting www.GetPrepared.ca or by calling 1 800 O-Canada.