Emergency management and preparedness

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Emergency Preparedness Action Plan

Do you know what to do in a tornado, flood or winter storm? Do you have everything you need during a major emergency?

This online tool will help you create an Emergency Preparedness Action Plan for your household.

Your completed plan will:

  • List the specific steps you need to take to get prepared
  • Provide tips on hazards that might affect your community
  • Include information related to special needs you may have (for example, information for people with disabilities and pet owners)

You can’t predict an emergency, but you can prepare for one. Take action today!

During an emergency

Who to contact

  • flood: 519-837-5628 (after hours 1-866-630-9242)
  • fallen tree: 519-837-5626
  • power outage: 519-822-3010
  • downed power lines: 911

Non-emergency calls

  • City of Guelph programs and services 519-822-1260
  • Ontario 211 for 24 hour multilingual information and referral service 211

Keep up to date

What to do during a power outage

  • Treat all intersections as four-way stops. Give right-of-way to vehicles on your right
  • Avoid running water or flushing the toilet – using water uses power
  • Keep refrigerator closed. Most frozen and refrigerated food will keep for up to twenty-four hours.
  • Using a battery powered/hand crank radio, listen to Magic FM 106.1 or CJOY AM 1460 for updates.
  • Leave one light on so that you know when the power is restored.
  • Help reduce initial demand upon power restoration, turn off major appliances that were operating before the outage, and resume operation over a twenty minute period.

What to do if you see downed power lines

  • Call 911
  • Stay clear! Stay at least 10 metres (33 feet) away from a downed power line or anything that is in contact with the wire and warn others of the danger.
  • Always assume a downed power line is live. Energized lines do not necessarily spark or dance.
  • Don’t drive over downed power lines. Even if not energized, they can become entangled in your vehicle.
  • Secure the area – warn others of the danger, but do not attempt to remove objects (tree limbs etc.) touching a power line.
  • If a power line falls on your car, stay in your car Warn others to stay back 10 metres (33 feet) and call 911.
  • Take care when cleaning up – Make sure no power lines are near before cutting or trimming damaged trees and removing debris from your property.

Youth activity sheets

Emergency survival kit card gamePets and emergencies crosswordActivity booklet“Is it an emergency?” spinner game