| In 2009 the City of Toronto, Office
of Emergency Management (OEM) in partnership with Emergency Management
Ontario (EMO), successfully piloted “Emergency Preparedness (EP) Survivor”
– an overnight in-school emergency simulation for secondary students. While
each “EP Survivor” event is unique to its host school and city, the program
always requires that students survive only on the contents of their emergency
kits and the presenters always teach students about basic disaster survival
skills.
This event continues to grow and
evolve getting better every year. In partnership with the Toronto
District School Board, approximately 40 students from RH King Academy were
invited to participate in a mock emergency evacuation due to a tornado.
Students slept in their school gymnasium and participated in a variety
of emergency preparedness activities and exercises. Insurance Bureau
of Canada provided all student participants with an emergency survival
kit.
Throughout the event, guest speakers
from various City services and non-government organizations made informative
presentations educating students on emergency preparedness and practical
survival skills. Literature and supplies to assist the students were provided.
Key Messages
Emergencies can happen at any place
and any time. If there is a flood, an ice storm, a tornado, you need to
know what to do to be prepared. Learn more about being emergency
ready at www.toronto.ca/oem
Emergency preparedness is everyone's
responsibility. All families should have a family emergency plan
and a three-day.
Participants
City of Toronto Office of Emergency
Management
Emergency Management Ontario
Insurance Bureau of Canada
City of Toronto Emergency Human
Services
Canadian Red Cross
Salvation Army
Department of National Defence
St. John Ambulance
Toronto Emergency Communications
(EMCOMM)
Toronto Public Health
Toronto EMS
Message from Toronto EmComm
The Toronto Emergency Communications
(EmComm) Group were pleased once again to be invited to participate in
EP Week events. As in past years and events the 709 Communications Regiment
played a very important support role for Toronto EmComm by providing assistance
installing antenna's and radio equipment.
We spoke to students about the radio
communications support role Amateur Radio Operators provide during emergencies
and the different radio networks established by volunteer radio operators
enrolled in the Ontario Amateur Radio Emergency Service under the direction
of Radio Amateurs of Canada.
Thanks are also extended to Gord
Hewit of Durham Region EmComm for his support in demonstrating Automatic
Position Reporting System (APRS) to students.
Jim Taylor VA3KU
Emergency Communications Co-ordinator
Toronto Emergency Communications
Group
Radio Station VA3EOT |
