Extreme weather is expected to increase as weather patterns are disrupted by climate change. Because of this, we are experiencing more drought, heat waves, power outages, thunderstorms and wildland fires.
The question is: how prepared are Greater Sudbury residents?
“During the last community survey done in 2021, the City engaged residents and found 47 per cent of respondents had discussed emergency preparedness with their family,” says Shannon Dowling, Emergency Management, City of Greater Sudbury. “Respondents told us they wanted to learn more about how to identify the risks, make a plan and build a 72-hour kit.”
Action plan
1. Know the risks in your community
“The first step in preparing for an emergency is knowing the risks in your community,” says Dowling. “In Greater Sudbury, our community Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment identifies hazards that help us plan for emergencies on a community level.”
Other local hazards residents should consider include:
- accidents in a nearby industrial park
- accidents on a major highway, road or railway
- hazards from nearby mining or smelting operations
- flooding from a nearby waterway
- storms causing days-long power outages
2. Do the same for your home, work and school
Next, do the same type of hazard assessment for your home, work and school. “This will help you plan for different types of emergencies for your family,” she says.
This resource from the City can help you learn more about the hazards in your home and neighbourhood.
3. Develop an emergency plan
“Once you know the risks and hazards, you can develop a plan for your family to use in an emergency,” says Dowling.
“Include things like where to meet if you’re separated and make sure all family members are included in your plan, including pets. In 20 minutes, you can prepare a plan online and print it out to keep in your emergency kit.”
4. Have a 72-hour emergency kit
“Speaking of emergency kits, you should have one ready to help you be prepared for any situation,” says Dowling. “You want the kit to help support you and your family for 72 hours following an emergency. You can build one yourself with common items from around your home or purchase one online from the Canadian Red Cross.”
Create individual versions or a larger family-style kit, but just make sure it is portable so you can bring it with you easily.
5. Sign up for Sudbury Alerts
Residents can sign up to be notified of potential hazards or concerns considered an imminent threat to local public safety at Sudbury Alerts. The system shares emergency action messages to help you stay safe and potentially protect or minimize damage to your property.
The Sudbury Alerts system allows residents to receive emergency alerts on their home phone, cell phone, TTY service, fax number or email address.
If you have already signed up, log on via the City’s website to make sure your information is current and updated.
Please note that Sudbury Alerts is different from the national Alert Ready system, which does not require an opt-in.
6. Get to know your neighbours
Residents can use this ‘Who is my neighbour?’ fridge magnet to gather contact information. During an emergency you can quickly check in on your neighbours to ensure everyone is okay, figure out what may be needed and how you can help.
The fridge magnets are available for free from the City. Simply contact EarthCare at [email protected] or call 311.
Wildland fires: A specific threat
“In 2023, Canada experienced a record-breaking year from wildland fires,” says Dowling. “From May to October, more than 15 million hectares burned, resulting in more than 235,000 people in 200 communities being evacuated. We also had one of the hottest summers on record, prompting heat and air quality advisories across the country.”
“Last year alone, we also saw wildland fires burn out of control across most provinces and territories. Tropical storms hit both coasts, bringing severe weather to Ontario and the prairies. Tornados, microbursts, violent winds and flash floods in Ontario and Quebec caused damage to hundreds of homes and left hundreds more without power for days.
Dowling shares, “Events like these remind us that emergencies can happen anywhere, at any time of year and changing weather patterns continue to be a factor in how we plan for emergencies.”
This past winter there was less snow, which means the forests might be very dry and more susceptible to wildland fire. While these fires are a natural and necessary part of the Boreal forests in northern Ontario, they can be dangerous and costly when they affect our community.
A few small changes around your property can significantly increase your resilience to fire. These helpful tips for homeowners from FireSmart Canada include advice on how to protect your home, yard and landscaping.
Of course, the danger presented by wildfires is two-fold, as it affects our health too. The smoke contains a mixture of gases and fine particles, releasing harmful contaminants into the air.
Wildfire smoke can cause milder symptoms like headache, mild cough, and nose, throat, and eye irritation. These can usually be managed at home. More serious symptoms warrant contacting a health care provider, dialling 811 for Health Connect Ontario, or calling emergency services. Watch out for severe cough, wheezing, difficulty breathing, asthma attacks, dizziness, chest pain and irregular heartbeat. For those with underlying health issues or breathing conditions, consider using a high-quality mask during smoke advisories.
Learn how to protect your health from wildland fire smoke with these tips from Public Health Sudbury & Districts. You can also check the local air quality using Ontario’s Air Quality Health Index.
Protect your home through FireSmartCanada.ca.
A few small changes around your property can significantly increase your resilience to fire.
Working together
“We have some of the most skilled and talented first responders who train to respond to all types of emergencies. We also work very closely with industry and community partners to support response and overall recovery efforts,” expresses Dowling.
“Residents also play a crucial role in this planning and that’s why we encourage everyone to take steps to support their own personal preparedness. Think about what you can do to support you and your family in the event of an emergency. By being prepared, you can help us create a disaster-resilient community.”
The City of Greater Sudbury has a Community Climate Change Adaptation Plan (CCCAP) to help guide us toward being a more resilient community when it comes to weather-related emergencies. There are a number of helpful resources on their Climate Action page, including climate action reports, the CCCAP in full and the Community Energy and Emissions Plan (CEEP)—the City’s long-term plan to reduce Greater Sudbury’s carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.
Together we can prepare for climate change risks and recover more quickly from crisis.
If you have a project you’d like the City to highlight, contact Jennifer Babin-Fenske at [email protected].
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
- Power outage safety tips - Greater Sudbury Utilities
- Emergencies & Being Prepared - Public Health Sudbury & Districts
- FireSmart Canada