Emergency Preparedness Week: Helping one another be prepared

Emergency Preparedness Week takes place May 4-10. While this week provides an opportunity for residents to learn how to protect their families, property and belongings during an emergency, it also reminds us of how important it is to come together during extreme situations, like a disaster or an emergency. This year’s Emergency Preparedness Week theme for Mississauga is ‘You. We. Us.’.

Emergencies are happening more often each year, from severe weather events to power outages, road collisions to protests and demonstrations, to infrastructure failures or major disasters. In fact, last year was the first time in Canadian history, insured damage caused by severe weather events surpassed $8 billion, according to the Insurance Bureau of Canada and Catastrophe Indices and Quantification Inc. (CatIQ).

While we can’t predict when an emergency will happen, there are steps we can take to make sure we’re prepared, together:

1. Create an emergency plan: Sit down with your family and close neighbours to create an emergency plan. Don’t forget to include your pets.
2. Build an emergency kit: Gather important things like food, water and first aid supplies. Remember to include items for pets or service animals, along with at least three days’ worth of food.
3. Watch out for neighbours in need: Be a good neighbour in check in with older adults on your street and those who may need a hand in preparing and planning for emergency situations. Consider creating a neighbourhood chat using an online messaging app.
4. Be fire safe: Learn fire prevention tips and review them with your family regularly throughout the year as different hazards occur in different seasons.
5. Know the risks: Understand what could go wrong where you live, so that you know what to prepare for. Some of the top hazards that commonly affect Mississauga include severe storms, floods, power and telecommunications outages, fires, gas leaks, and extreme heat or cold, amongst others.
6. Stay updated: Know where to get trusted information during an emergency such as reputable news outlets, the City’s Newsroom, The Weather Network, Peel Regional Police. Make sure to have a list of important phone numbers that you can easily access.
7. Be proactive: If you know someone who might need extra help in an emergency due to health or mobility concerns, make sure they are registered on Mississauga Fire and Emergency Services’ Vulnerable Persons Registry. This helps firefighters know their needs when attending an emergency call. Also, consider the needs of older adults and those with disabilities; even if you don’t live with someone who needs extra help, it’s good to know how to assist others in your community. Take a moment to read: Mississauga’s Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults and Persons with Disabilities.
8. Check your insurance: Talk with your insurance provider to make sure you have adequate insurance coverage for a range of risks that might occur in your area. Be sure you know the 24/7 emergency phone number to start a claim.

This year, the City’s Emergency Management Office team will also be hosting events during Emergency Preparedness Week in an effort to bring residents together.

Emergency Preparedness Session with Sauga Connections for Older Adults

A session designed specifically for older adults residing in Mississauga, offering information on how to effectively prepare for emergencies and disasters.

Date: Tuesday May 6, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Location: Virtual as a part of the Sauga Connections for Older Adults series (Registration is not required – participants may access the session through the above link under the Tuesday drop down menu.)

Ready, Set, Respond! Youth Emergency Workshop

In this interactive workshop, youth will explore how to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies through game-based learning. Online registration is required.

Date: Tuesday, May 6, 2025
Time: 4:30 to 6 p.m.
Location: Burnhamthorpe Community Centre, Program Room

Emergencies Exhibit

An exhibit to showcase different emergencies across Mississauga’s history to bring awareness and highlight how to be prepared for similar events.

Date: Wednesday May 7, 2025
Time: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Location: City Hall – Great Hall

Hazel McCallion Central Library Drop-in Event

A drop-in event for people to meet and learn about the Office of Emergency Management (OEM) team, as well as general information about emergency preparedness, including examples of emergency kits and vehicle emergency kits.

Date: Thursday May 8, 2025
Time: 5 to 8 p.m.
Location: Hazel McCallion Central Library

For more information about emergency preparedness, visit the Mississauga Emergency Management website.

Digital assets and downloads

Download an audio clip of Ben Gallagher, Manager of the Office of Emergency Management for the City of Mississauga, sharing tips on safety and preparedness.

For more information about emergency preparedness, visit the Mississauga Emergency Management website.

Quotes

“Emergency Preparedness Week serves as a timely reminder that our safety and resilience depend on the actions we take today to plan, prepare and protect ourselves and our communities. The increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events highlights the pressing need to plan and prepare our city for the impacts of climate change. Mississauga Council continues to actively invest in infrastructure and programs that serve to increase our resilience and make sure we are prepared for future emergency challenges.” – Mississauga Mayor Carolyn Parrish

“Emergency preparedness is a conversation that should extend beyond just one week—it’s something we need to do year-round. Ongoing education and effective preparation are key to ensuring you’re prepared and ready when an emergency does happen. It’s also important that you stay informed and work to connect and build relationships with neighbours and those in your community, as we all have a vital role to play in supporting each other during times of need.”- Ben Gallagher, Manager, Office of Emergency Management (OEM)

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• Emergency and Preparedness
• Public Safety