Always be prepared for any emergency

[attach]4009[/attach]One of everyone’s worst nightmares — a fire leaves you without a home.

That’s what happened to some of my neighbours recently. The fire struck on a cold night this past winter — leaving people in a high-rise building on Cosburn Avenue with no place to live and in great distress.

Like the couple and their infant sleeping in their car outside waiting desperately to get back in to get essentials for the baby; and the elderly gentleman wearing only his pyjamas and coat — no identification or money.

Early that morning as I talked to the families left homeless, I found that many didn’t know what services were available to them. Immediately, my staff and I prepared to do what we could to help. But part of what needs to be done is planning before a crisis hits.

Are you prepared for that emergency you’re sure would never happen to you or your family? That crippling disaster that could occur when you least expect it?

Thankfully in Toronto we can rely on immediate on-site help from city employees: Toronto Fire, Police, TTC, Emergency Medical Services and Emergency Human Services.

I was moved by the professionalism and compassion shown by the Fire and Police departments and other city staff during my tour with tenants whose grief and shock still registered on their faces. Equally moving was seeing neighbour helping neighbour.

Sometimes it takes a crisis to remind us how important we all are to one another.

Prevention helps ease the pain of an emergency. Call it your “Investment in Preparedness” — create an Emergency Kit.

Here are some ideas for what you should have: bottled water, flashlight, batteries, spare keys, toiletries, trail mix, granola bars, ID (copies of passport, driver’s license, SIN, Health), credit and debit cards, and medication.

Consider them the essentials. Store your kit in an easy-to-access space in your home. Also, safety is priority number one.
The following is a guide on safety tips and resources offered by the City of Toronto that you can access in case of an emergency: Emergency Management at 416-392-4554, [email=OEM@toronto.ca]OEM@toronto.ca[/email]; police at 54 Division, 416-808-5400 or 911; Fire Services at 416-338-9050 or 911; Emergency Human Services at 416-392-9206, [email]ssha@toronto.ca[/email]. And finally, my office at 416-392-4032, [email=councillor_fragedakis@toronto.ca]councillor_fragedakis@toronto.ca[/email]

Remember, if you are prepared you can mitigate the stress during an emergency. Be safe!