Close Alert Banner
Close Old Browser Notification
Browser Compatibility Notification
It appears you are trying to access this site using an outdated browser. As a result, parts of the site may not function properly for you. We recommend updating your browser to its most recent version at your earliest convenience.
Skip to Content
A - Z ServicesAccessibilityJobsContact Us
ENG FR
View our Facebook page
Our Websites
  • City Site
  • Fire Department
  • Library
  • Visiting Elliot Lake
City of Elliot Lake Logo
City of Elliot Lake Logo Dark version
Contact Us
  • Our Community
    • 2022 Municipal Election
    • Age Friendly Elliot Lake
    • Affordable Access
    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Building, By-Law & Planning
    • Cemetery
    • Community and Recreation Calendar
    • Community Grant Program
    • Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
    • Covid-19 Response
    • Elliot Lake Newsletter
    • Elliot Lake Pride
    • Emergency Services
    • Garbage and Recycling
    • Healthcare
    • Health and Wellness Services & Businesses
    • Lakeshore Properties
    • Library
    • Report a Concern
    • Retirement Living
    • Roads and Sidewalks
    • Schools
    • Services & Clubs
    • Snow Angels
    • Social Services
    • Transit and Transportation
    • Water and Wastewater
    • Waterfront Property Owners Resources
    • Wi-Fi Hotspots
  • Recreation and Culture
    • Activities and Programs
    • Affordable Access
    • Arena and Ice Rinks
    • Arts and Culture
    • Attractions
    • Boat Launches and Slips
    • Library
    • Museum and Heritage
    • Pool and Beaches
    • Tourism
    • Special Events
    • Sports Fields
    • Visiting Elliot Lake
  • Invest and Grow
    • Available Land
    • Bids and Tenders
    • Building and Planning
    • Business Grants and Incentives
    • Community Profile
    • Economic Development Events
    • Economic Development Department Newsletter
    • Elliot Lake Shop Local
    • Starting or Expanding your Business
    • Taxes
    • Utilities
    • Zoning
  • City Hall
    • 2022 Municipal Election
    • Accessibility
    • Affordable Access
    • Agendas and Minutes
    • Animal Services
    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Bids and Tenders
    • Budget and Finances
    • Building, By-Law & Planning
    • By-laws and Policies
    • Civic Awards
    • City Street and Asset Renaming Submissions
    • Code of Conduct / Integrity Commissioner
    • Committees and Boards
    • Contact Us
    • Department List
    • Feedback
    • Flag Raisings
    • Jobs
    • Lottery Licensing
    • Mayor and Council
    • Mayor's Levee
    • Memorial Bench and Tree Program
    • News and Notices
    • Plans and Reports
    • Public Input
    • Report a Concern
    • Taxes and Water
  • I Want To...

I Want To...

Pay

Pay

  • Building Permits, Demolition Permits and File Searches
  • Burning Permits
  • Buy a Memorial Brick
  • Donate Funds
  • Invoice Payment
  • Parking Tickets
  • Purchase a Pet Tag after January 15, 2023
  • Taxi Licensing Online Payment
  • Water and Tax Certificates
Apply

Apply

  • Affordable Access Card
  • Building and Planning Permits
  • Cemetery Plot / Niche
  • Change My Mailing Address
  • Commemorative Certificate Request
  • E-Billing
  • For a Proclamation
  • Jobs
  • Join a Committee / Volunteer
  • Marriage Licences
  • Memorial Bench and Tree Program
  • Open Air Burning Permit
  • Organization's Flag to be Raised
  • Recreation Programs
Learn About

Learn About

  • 2022 Municipal Election
  • Affordable Access Program
  • Age Friendly Program
  • ATV Interactive Trail Map
  • Council / Committee Meetings
  • Garbage and Recycling
  • Grocery Delivery Program
  • Municipal Taxes and Water Rates
  • North Shore Challenge Drag Race
  • Retirement Living
  • Uranium Heritage Days Street Dance
  • Waterfront Living / Lakeshore Properties
Report

Report

  • A Minor Crime to the Ontario Provincial Police
  • Accessibility (AODA) Concerns
  • Code of Conduct / Integrity Commissioner
  • Property Standards Concern
  • Report a Concern

Personal Preparedness

More
HomeOur CommunityEmergency ServicesEmergency ManagementPersonal Preparedness
 
  • Open new window to share this page via Facebook Facebook
  • Open new window to share this page via LinkedIn LinkedIn
  • Open new window to share this page via Twitter Twitter
  • Email this page Email

Emergencies can happen anytime.  Are you ready?

You should always be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for up to three days in the event of an emergency or disaster and outside aid may not be available. Follow these 3 steps to ensure your family’s safety.

 Step 1 - Make a Plan
In an emergency, your family may not be together, or you may be asked to evacuate your home. Thinking about what you would do in different situations and preparing a plan with every member of your family is the first step to being prepared.

What your Plan Should Include:

A Family Communications Plan

During an emergency, it may be easier to reach someone using text messaging or social media or to make a long-distance call than to call someone locally (due to network damage or a jammed system). Discuss with your family which way(s) you will try to get in touch with each other. Identify one or two out-of-town contacts you and your loved ones can call or text message to connect and share information. Be sure they live far enough away so they will not likely be affected by the same emergency.

  • Contact 1:
  • Contact 2:

Make sure everyone in your family, as well as your two key contacts, knows how to use text messaging. During emergencies, these messages may often get through even when phone calls may not. Always keep your communications devices fully charged.

Evacuation Plan

In case you are asked to evacuate your home, or even your area, select two safe locations you could go to. One should be nearby, such as a local library or community centre. The other one should be farther away, outside your neighbourhood, in case the emergency affects a large area.

  • Safe meeting place 1 (near home):
  • Safe meeting place 2 (outside my neighbourhood):

You should also plan how you would travel to a safe location if evacuation was advised. Have an emergency survival kit ready to take with you (that’s Step 2). And if you have pets, think of someone who can take your pet(s) if you have to leave your home. Often, only service animals are allowed at receptions centres.

  • My evacuation route:
  • Location of my emergency survival kit:
  • Location and contact information for pet assistance:

Review of Safety in Your Home

Evacuation Route

Make sure everyone in your family knows how to safely exit your home—by a main exit and an alternate one. Be sure to consider your living situation. For instance, if you live in a high-rise and have special needs, talk to your building manager or neighbours to make special arrangements, if necessary.

  • Review of safe exits from home

Emergency Numbers

Keep a listing of emergency numbers at the ready and make sure all members of your family know where they are. Teach children when and how to dial 9-1-1 and other key numbers they may need to call. Here are some numbers you should consider having on this list:

  • 9-1-1 (where available)
  • Police
  • Fire
  • Family Doctor
  • Telehealth
  • Poison control
  • Family & friends who can lend support in a crisis
  • Insurance contact
  • Utility companies

Fire and Other Safety

Follow general household safety rules for smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. More information on how many to have, where to place them, how often to check and replace them can be obtained from your local fire department.

  • Review of household fire and other safety

Utility Shut-off Procedure

Every adult in your family, as well as older children, should also know how to turn off main utilities—water, electricity, gas. In certain emergencies, authorities will ask that these be turned off for safety reasons. Write out instructions, if needed, and post somewhere visible. Everyone should also know where the floor drain is located and ensure that it is not obstructed, in case of flooding.

  • Review of directions to turn-off utilities—water valve, electrical panel, gas valve

Important Documents

Make copies of important documents (insurance, main identification documents like driver’s licence and passport, birth and marriage certificates, wills). Keep with your plan in a safe place. Consider sharing copies with out-of-town family members or keep a set in a safety deposit box.

  • Packet of important documents

Emergency Planning and Safety Beyond Your Home

Inquire at your workplace, and your child’s school or daycare about their emergency plans. Find out about their evacuation plans and how they will contact family in an emergency. Make sure that you keep all relevant contact information up to date at work and at your child’s school or daycare, and make sure any people designated to pick up your child are familiar with your emergency plan.

Think of your neighbours. Identify anyone who may need assistance during an emergency and discuss a plan with them and other neighbours. For instance, help them prepare an emergency plan and survival kit, and arrange to check in on that person during an emergency, like a power outage.

Planning for Special Needs

If you or anyone in your family has special needs, be sure your plan reflects them. For instance, for someone with special medical needs or a medical condition, you may want to include in your plan a medical history, copies of prescriptions, information for key health-care contacts. Your emergency kit should also contain extra medications and supplies. You may not have access to conveniences, such as pharmacies, immediately after an emergency has occurred. It is also a good idea to teach others about any special needs, such as how to use medical equipment or administer medicine.

To learn more about emergency planning for disability and special needs, consult our guide for people with disabilities/special needs.

When Your Plan Is Ready

  • Discuss your plan with other family and friends so they know what you would do in an emergency.
  • Keep your plan in an easy to reach location. A good place is with your emergency kit. Make sure everyone in your family knows where to find it.
  • Once a year, review your plan with the entire family. Update it to reflect any changes you want to make.
  • Refresh your survival kit at the same time, with new food, water and other supplies.
 Step 2 - Build a Kit

Your emergency survival kit should have everything you and your family would need to be safe and take care of yourselves for at least three days immediately following an emergency.

The following list is broken down into the essentials, items you may need to meet your family’s unique needs, and items to have ready in case you have to leave your home.

WHAT TO PUT IN YOUR SURVIVAL KIT

Essentials

  • Food (non-perishable and easy-to-prepare items, enough for 3 days) and a manual can opener
  • Bottled water (4 litres per person for each day)
  • Medication(s)
  • Flashlight
  • Radio (crank or battery-run)
  • Extra batteries
  • First-aid kit
  • Candles and matches/lighter
  • Hand sanitizer or moist towelettes
  • Important papers (identification, contact lists, copies of prescriptions, etc.)
  • Extra car keys and cash
  • Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
  • Zip-lock bag (to keep things dry)
  • Garbage bags

Special Considerations

  • Items for babies and small children—diapers, formula, bottles, baby food, comfort items
  • Prescription medication
  • Medical supplies and equipment
  • Pet food and supplies
  • Any other items specific to your family’s needs

Extra Supplies for Evacuation

  • Clothes, shoes
  • Sleeping bags or blankets
  • Personal items (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, comb, other toiletries)
  • Playing cards, travel games, other activities for children

Other Tips

  • Pack the contents of your kit in an easy-to-carry bag(s) or a case on wheels.
  • Store your kit in a place that is easy to reach, and ensure that everyone in your family knows where it is.
  • Your kit does not have to be built overnight. Spread your shopping over a few weeks. Purchase a few items every time you go to the store.
  • Your water supply is meant to cover what you would drink as well as what you might need for food preparation, hygiene and dishwashing.
  • Check and refresh your kit twice a year—when the clocks shift to/from daylight savings time is a good time. Check all expiry dates and replace food and water with a fresh supply. Check batteries and replace as needed.
  • Keep your cell phone or mobile device fully charged.
 Step 3 - Be Informed
During an emergency, you should stay tuned to local news channels. Be sure to have a portable, battery-operated or crank radio in your survival kit in case of power outages.

More information

You can find more information on what to do in the event of a disaster or emergency in Elliot Lake through Algoma Public Health. 

The Canadian Red Cross and Health Canada are important nation-wide resources that can provide you with important information on Canadian emergency services in your area.

If you are travelling, the Ontario Ministry of Transportation provides road safety information.

You can find important weather information with Environment Canada's weather updates or through the Weather Network. These resources will tell you what to do during a special weather event.

Contact Us

Subscribe to this Page
  • Emergency Services
    Toggle Section Emergency Services Menu
    • Emergency Management
      Toggle Section Emergency Management Menu
      • Personal Preparedness
      • Pet Preparedness
      • Possible Emergencies
    • Paramedics
    • Police
  • View full Our Community menu
    • 2022 Municipal Election
    • Age Friendly Elliot Lake
    • Affordable Access
    • Applications, Licences and Permits
    • Building, By-Law & Planning
      Toggle Section Building, By-Law & Planning Menu
      • Building Permits
      • Minor Variances
      • Property Standards
      • Zoning
    • Cemetery
    • Community and Recreation Calendar
    • Community Grant Program
    • Community Safety and Well-Being Plan
    • Covid-19 Response
    • Elliot Lake Newsletter
    • Elliot Lake Pride
    • Garbage and Recycling
      Toggle Section Garbage and Recycling Menu
      • Clean-Up Week
      • Hazardous Waste
      • Landfill
      • Leaf Collection
      • Recycling
    • Healthcare
      Toggle Section Healthcare Menu
      • Assisted Living and Long Term Care
      • Family Health Team
      • Hospital
      • Rehabilitation Centre
    • Health and Wellness Services & Businesses
    • Lakeshore Properties
    • Library
    • Report a Concern
    • Retirement Living
    • Roads and Sidewalks
      Toggle Section Roads and Sidewalks Menu
      • Winter Maintenance
    • Schools
    • Services & Clubs
    • Snow Angels
    • Social Services
    • Transit and Transportation
      Toggle Section Transit and Transportation Menu
      • Accessible Transit
      • Airport
      • Fares and Passes
      • Taxis, Buses and Rentals
      • Transit Schedule
    • Water and Wastewater
      Toggle Section Water and Wastewater Menu
      • Water Notices and Advisories
    • Waterfront Property Owners Resources
    • Wi-Fi Hotspots

footer logo

© 2022 The City of Elliot Lake, 45 Hillside Drive North, Elliot Lake, ON P5A 1X5, Phone: 705-848-2287, Email Us

  • A to Z Services
  • Sitemap
  • Feedback
  • Refund Policy
  • Report a Concern
  • Contact Us