Disaster Services and Emergency Management

Disaster Services and Emergency Management is in place to work towards eliminating risks, and ensuring residents are as safe as possible in the event of a disaster.

As illustrated by the devastating Slave Lake wildfires, a disaster can strike at any time, and the Town of Edson is continuously working towards making the community as safe as possible through programs like FireSmarting, educating the public, and training staff to handle emergency situations.

In the event of an emergency, Edson's Emergency Coordination Centre (ECC) will be activated by the Director of Emergency Management.

If there was an emergency....

Do you know what to do?
Do you know where to go?

If you have to evacuate your home within 10 minutes...

Do you know what you need?
Do you know where to find it in your home?

Residents should be prepared for emergency situations including having a family (people and pet) emergency plan for your home, a "Grab and Go" kit, and a 72-hour Basic Emergency Kit.

• Stay informed during an emergency
o Listen to the radio
o Watch TV or check local news or government websites
o Follow the Town of Edson’s website, Twitter, or Facebook
o Follow Alberta Emergency Alert Twitter

The safety of residents is our number one concern, and the Town of Edson is prepared and ready to ensure the necessary resources are available in the event of any emergency.

In the event of an emergency, responders may be busy assisting those in immediate danger. The 72-hour kit holds supplies to support you and your family for the first 3 days in an emergency situation. It is recommended that you ensure you have these following items and check off items as your accumulate them.

In addition, this emergency kit should be kept somewhere easily accessible (such as in the front closet by your front door) in the event of an evacuation.

Personalize your kit to suite your particular situation.

If you are pressed for time, here are some basic items to consider for your emergency kit:

Three-day supply of water (4 L per person per day)
Non-perishable food for all family members and pets (three-day supply)
First-aid kit
Flashlight, battery-powered radio and extra batteries
An extra set of car keys, credit cards, and cash
Sanitation supplies
Extra eyeglasses or contact lenses
Important family documents and contact numbers
Prescriptions or special medications
Chargers for electronic communication devices
Insurance documents
Emergency phone numbers list
A change of clothes for each family member

Expanded and printable checklists by type of kit:

Emergency supply requirements vary depending on your needs. You will need to decide which essential items to include for yourself and your family. Here are some things to consider:

Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding or have infant children will want to include provisions such as:
- Breastfeeding aides, formula, bottles, baby food and extra water
- Diapers, wipes and extra changes of clothes
- Prenatal vitamins, ointments and medications for mom and baby (over-the-counter and prescription)
Persons with disabilities and special needs will want to include additional supports. For example, a person in a wheelchair will want to include:
- Tire patch kit
- Can of seal-in-air product (to repair flat tires on your wheelchair or scooter)
- Supply of inner tubes
- Pair of heavy gloves (to protect your hands while wheeling over glass or other sharp debris)
- Latex-free gloves (for anyone providing personal care to you)
- Spare deep-cycle battery for a motorized wheelchair or scooter
- A lightweight, manual wheelchair as a backup to a motorized wheelchair (if feasible)
- Spare catheters (if applicable)
- Your power outage backup plan
Individuals with severe allergies, chronic medical conditions or special medical needs will want to include the necessary supplies. For example, a person with diabetes will want to include:
- MedicAlert bracelet or identification
- Extra supply of insulin or oral agent
- Pump supplies, syringes, needles and insulin pens (if used)
- Small container for storing used syringes and/or needles (if applicable)
- Blood glucose testing kit, spare batteries and record book
- Supply of blood glucose and urine ketone testing strips Fast acting insulin for high blood glucose (if applicable)
- Fast acting sugar for low blood glucose
- Extra food to cover delayed meals
- Ice packs and thermal bag to store insulin (if applicable)

Tips for building and maintaining your kits:

Your kit should be updated every six months to ensure food and medications are not expired, the water is fresh, clothing still fits, personal documents and credit cards are up-to-date, and batteries are charged.
Take away the hassle of remembering by setting a reminder on your calendar or use daylight savings as your reminder to update your emergency kits.
Consider seasonal requirements when you update your kits. In the spring include bug spray, sunscreen and hats. In the fall you trade the bug spray for warm clothing and extra blankets.
When packing your kits, dividing items into groups and packing them in Ziploc bags not only helps with organization but it can prevent leakage caused by melting, broken or spoiled items.

About the Alberta Emergency Alert

Alberta Emergency Alert is an alerting system available in Alberta that provides critical information about developing and immediate disasters. Alerts are distributed through various means: radio, television, websites, Twitter, Facebook and the Alberta Emergency Alert App.

This is a provincial alert tool that is used by the Provincial government and various municipalities to communicate about emergencies.

The Alberta Emergency Alert is used by the Town to alert residents and visitors on developing emergencies or serious incidents within the community. Additionally, information is shared on the Town of Edson's social media channels.

Why download the app?

Download and install the app and then sign-up for emergency alerts from every region in Alberta or for regions that you choose.
If an alert is issued a message will be sent to your phone.
There are two categories of alerts: critical or information. Critical alerts are for imminent and life-threatening danger, such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes or Amber Alerts. Information alerts are for awareness and to encourage preparation for events such as severe storms, traffic disruption or air quality warnings.
The Alberta Emergency Alert App allows you to decide the alert tone and the region(s) in Alberta you can receive alerts from.

Setting up the app

Edson residents must download the mobile app to receive alerts through AEA in order to receive emergency notifications.

Once the app has been downloaded and installed:
- Ensure you setup emergency alerts for the Edson area
- Ensure you turn-on Critical and Advisory alerts. If these are not turned on, you will not receive alerts from the Town

What’s the difference between a critical alert and an advisory alert?

Critical alerts are for imminent and life-threatening danger, such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes or Amber Alerts.
Advisory alerts are for less urgent information and to prepare the public for potential emergency events related to their property and/or the environment such as severe storms or water quality warnings.

Be prepared in case an evacuation order is called for your community. Bring your pets and pack medications, necessities and clothes to last a week or more. Having a completed "grab and go" bag and a 72-hour emergency kit are essential!

Alerts and orders

Evacuation alert (advisory): People should prepare to evacuate soon, if situation deteriorates.

Evacuation alerts help you prepare to leave on short notice.
Take the actions directed, be prepared to go quickly and monitor trusted sources of information for updates.

Evacuation order (critical): People must evacuate now.

Evacuation orders are issued when you are in danger.
Emergency situations can change rapidly and prompt an immediate evacuation order.
Evacuate immediately if you are located inside an order's boundaries and directed to evacuate.
Delaying your departure can put your life at risk and hinder emergency response efforts.
Follow the specific instructions provided by your local authorities during an evacuation.
Always prioritize your safety and the safety of those around you.

If you received an evacuation order with instructions to take action, sometimes it can be difficult to accept that the danger is real. Choosing to ignore it can put your life, and the life of others, at risk. Acting quickly reduces the risk of evacuation routes becoming blocked or too dangerous to travel. Being ready to act quickly allows first responders to focus on the threat and help those who may need it, it also reduces the risk of outages to utilities and services like power, water, telecommunications, food, banking and fuel.

When you are prepared to respond to an evacuation order, it gives you time to protect your home and reduces the stress of leaving.

Evacuation Rescind
An evacuation alert or order is withdrawn or cancelled when it is determined it is safe for your return. It is important that you only return when permitted and that you are able to understand the details of the return process.