Red Cross to host 72 hour emergency preparedness workshop in Carleton Place

With natural disasters and severe weather events on the rise around the world, Carleton Place residents will have the chance to learn how to better prepare themselves and their families at an upcoming workshop led by the Canadian Red Cross.

The free session will be held Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Carleton Place Public Library and all are welcome to attend. Event organizers say the workshop will break down practical steps residents can take now to prepare for emergencies, from putting together a household plan to assembling a 72-hour survival kit.

“As recently as 15 years ago, Red Cross responses to disasters here in Canada were predominantly helping those who were impacted by local house and apartment fires and the very occasional ice storm and power outage,” town officials explained in a press release. “More recently, Red Cross volunteers find themselves occupied by a dramatic increase in climate-related and other events. Planning for annual fire and flood seasons that dislocate more and more people, and responding to tornadoes and hurricanes, is unprecedented. Deployments across the country are year-round.”

During the workshop, participants will learn about the risks most relevant to the Carleton Place and surrounding area, how to create a plan tailored to their specific household, and what supplies should go into an emergency kit. Town officials say the goal is to empower residents to feel more confident and capable should disaster strike.

“The more people that can take care of themselves for the first 72 hours of a disaster, the more our first responders, such as police, fire, ambulance, hydro, water and road crews, can focus on helping those who cannot help themselves,” the Town of Carleton Place explained.

Those interested in attending the workshop are asked to register by emailing hsinnett@carletonplace.ca.