When residents of Fort McMurray were evacuated with warning earlier this week due to a wildfire burning out control, many were only able to get out with the clothes on their backs and just a few supplies that would barely hold them over.

With this week being emergency preparedness week, the Okotoks Fire Department is reminding Foothills residents that planning ahead can mean the difference between survival or just getting by.

Okotoks Deputy Fire Chief Pat MacIssac

It's suggested in a emergency situation leading to an evacuation that a 72 hour emergency kit should be ready to go if you have to leave promptly.

Deputy Fire Chief Pat MacIssac says with these kits, pack the essentials you need to get through times when you may not be close to any services.

"With a ready kit, that's a kit that you want to be able to grab and throw in your vehicle and take with you if you have to leave or evacuate your residence on a short notice," he says. "It's a good idea to have a kit ready and a kit for each member of your household."

Ready kits are available at the fire hall on Milligan Drive when you sign up for Safe Communities Alert Network (SCAN) but MacIssac says it wouldn't hurt to also pack your own personal kit on top of a 72 hour one with items like phone cords or even a dynamo powered radio to stay informed if stranded.

"The radio is the way most people in emergencies get their information especially if they're cut off from TV or the Internet so this is an actual radio that you can wind up and you don't require batteries for it and I can stay informed without relying on batteries or power."

MacIssac says if you are in a Fort McMurray like situation down the road it's best to make the following items are packed and ready to go at a moments notice.

"Other than obviously family members. Medication lists, personal papers, health cards, credit cards those kind of things are pretty essential."

For more on emergency preparedness check out our full interview with MacIssac below.

 

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