Practice, Practice, Practice:  that is the heartbeat of every emergency plan.  Under the Emergency management and Civil Protection Act, Ontario Regulation 380/04, the province establishes the minimum standards for emergency management programs required by municipalities and provincial ministries and supports the requirement in the Act.  It states that every municipality must have an emergency plan and that it is practiced at least once a year.  One of the largest challenges of this requirement is to have all of the players in the plan under one roof at one time.  This is a tremendous learning opportunity to better understand what works and what requires attention.  In 2007/8 six communites in West Parry Sound came together with a consultant to design a Mutual Aid Plan which would see us in an emergency all working together off of the same plan.  Communication strategies were designed and put in place as well as information regarding resources that could be available to communities that did not have it readily available.  Partnerships with our neighbouring municipalities and emergency services solidify our goals to help our communities when they are in need.

How can you assist in helping you?  You too need to practice what to do in an emergency.  Have a plan, ensure all of your family members are included and of course that means your pets as well and put together a 72 hour Survival Kit. \

Please click the link to view the Town of Parry Sound's Emergency Response Plan