Always call 9-1-1 in an emergency.
Being prepared means you know what to do, where to go and you have supplies to properly respond to emergencies and disasters. When we are prepared to take care of our needs for a minimum 72 hours, it allows first responders and all levels of government to focus on managing the emergency and helping those who need it most.
The following information has been adapted from the Alberta Emergency Management Agency and the Government of Canada.
Knowing the emergencies you could face allows you and your family to plan your response. Identifying responses unique to each emergency makes it easier to act fast when seconds matter.
The below emergencies could be experienced in Leduc County. Click on the emergency type to learn what to do before, during and after the emergency:
Your household needs an emergency plan. This plan includes important information to help guide you through an emergency.
Use the emergency preparedness guide to create your household emergency plan. If your family has special needs, use the emergency preparedness guide for people with disabilities/special needs.
For information about how to prepare farm animals for an emergency, view emergency preparedness for farm animals.
Rural residents face unique challenges in emergency situations; consider developing a rural emergency plan to prepare for fires or hazardous material spills.
On April 17, Leduc County Fire Services hosted an online presentation to help small-scale livestock owners make a preparedness plan in case of an emergency and/or evacuation. If you missed out on the session, please watch a recorded version below:
In the event of a major emergency or disaster, normal emergency services are often interrupted. You should be prepared to be self sufficient for at least the first 72 hours after an emergency.
Your 72-hour emergency kit should reflect your family's unique needs. It should include the following items:
View our tip sheet for a complete list of items to put in your emergency kit
When building your kit, consider what items you need if any of the following apply to your family:
If you have severe allergies, chronic medical conditions or other medical needs, you will want to include the necessary supplies. For example, if you have diabetes you will want to include the following:
If you have pets, you will want to include the necessary supplies, such as the following:
Individuals are encouraged to have an emergency kit in their vehicle(s).
Pre-packaged kits and supplies can be purchased from the Canadian Red Cross and other commercial entities.
Neighbours are often the first to lend a hand when an unexpected situation occurs. You can build community connections by interacting with people in your neighbourhood. Here are a few tips to get you started:
Connected communities are more resilient communities. Want to be more prepared? The Government of Alberta developed the Be Prepared program to help. Take a minute to watch this video or visit www.alberta.ca/CommunityPrep to learn more.
Being financially prepared is about more than just having money in the bank. Insurance is a financial safety net. When you have the right coverage, it can help you and your loved ones recover when something bad happens.
As a last resort, the Government of Alberta’s disaster recovery program may be an option, but it’s important to note it does not cover all types of damage or loss and may not cover the full cost of replacement. Visit Disaster Recovery Program to learn more.
To learn more how to keep your pets safe before, during and after an emergency, visit Pet preparedness.
View or sign up get advisories and public safety alerts.
View our emergency alert and notifications tip sheet.
Alert Ready is Canada’s national alerting system. It automatically sends life-saving emergency alerts through television, radio and compatible mobile devices.
Check if your cell phone is compatible with Alert Ready.
Alberta Emergency Alert is Alberta's emergency alerting system. Communities, including Leduc County, can issue emergency alerts to notify citizens of a potential or ongoing emergency and provide instructions for what you should do to stay safe.
These alerts are broadcast on television and radio. You should download the mobile app to receive notifications to your mobile device.
Download the Alberta Emergency Alert app on your smartphone or tablet from the Apple Store or Google Play store, or text FollowAB_EmergAlert to 21212 to receive text notifications.
Fire advisories, restrictions and bans are issued when the fire hazard rating has increased and restrictions are needed to protect the community and prevent urban fires and/or wildfires.
If a fire advisory, restriction or ban is issued in Leduc County, we will post that information to leduc-county.com/fire-bans. We also use share this information on Alberta Fire Bans; call Alberta Fire Bans information line at 1-866-FYI-FIRE (1-866-394-3473).
Download the Alberta Fire Bans app on your smartphone or tablet from the Apple Store or Google Play store.
Alberta Parks is responsible for issuing fire advisories, restrictions and bans in provincial parks.
The Alberta Wildfire website has the latest updates on the status of all wildfires burning in Alberta. Report a wildfire by calling toll-free to 310-FIRE (310-3473).
Download the Alberta Wildfire app on your smartphone or tablet from the Apple Store or Google Play store.
Flood and ice advisories, watches and warnings are issued by the Government of Alberta. They are issued when weather or river forecasts suggest a provincial waterway could flood. These notifications are referred to as any of the following:
Download the Alberta Rivers app on your smartphone or tablet from the Apple Store or Google Play store.
Health advisories are issued when there is a risk to the general population or more at-risk populations, like children, seniors and those with certain health conditions. Health advisories are issued by Alberta Health Services. These advisories include air quality advisories, heat advisories, blue-green algae advisories, boil water advisories and more.
View active health advisories issued by Alberta Health Services.
Weather advisories – including heat warnings, extreme cold warnings, snowfall warnings, tornado watches and more – are issued by Environment and Climate Change Canada when severe weather poses a threat to Canadians.
View active weather advisories.
Download the Weathercan app on your smartphone or tablet from the Apple Store or Google Play store.
When it comes to emergency preparedness and emergency management, we all have a role to play.
Individuals and families should be prepared to take care of themselves for a minimum of 72 hours during an emergency and should also understand the basic principles of first aid and safety.
First responders, such as police, paramedics and firefighters, are normally the first to respond to an emergency. They, in conjunction with local municipalities, are responsible for managing most local emergencies.
Local governments are responsible for making sure their communities are prepared for emergencies. Leduc County maintains a municipal Emergency Management Plan that details steps to be taken in the event of an emergency or disaster in Leduc County.
A major emergency mutual-aid agreement is in place between all municipalities located within Leduc County boundaries to ensure adequate resources are available in an emergency. The county also works closely with Edmonton International Airport and Alberta Emergency Management Agency and is an active member of the Capital Region Emergency Planning Partnership.
In Alberta, the Alberta Emergency Management Agency is the coordinating agency for emergency management activities and initiatives. It monitors the province for porential emergencies and disasters on a 24/7 basis.
Federal departments and agencies support provincial and/or territorial emergency management organizations. They also manage emergencies that involve areas of federal jurisdiction, such as nuclear safety, national defence and border security.
Non-government organizations, such as the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance and The Salvation Army, play an important role in emergency management, including disaster prevention/mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.
Click on the emergency type to learn what to do before, during and after the emergency:
Being able to communicate with family, friends and emergency responders during an emergency is critical.
It is important to keep in mind that everyday communication devices may not work properly during an emergency. Here are some tips to keep you connected:
If hazardous materials are released into the air, authorities may direct you to shelter-in-place. This means you should stay where you are and follow their instructions.
The below lists provide tips for how to shelter-in-place based on where you are:
Remain on your property with your animals until the emergency passes or gets resolved. Decide whether to confine the animals in an available shelter or leave them outdoors.
In case of flooding, ensure that your animals can be moved to high ground and have access to feed and clean water.
An outdoor sheltering location should:
Evacuation alerts warn the public of a potential or current threat. If an evacuation alert is issued, do the following:
Evacuation orders are mandatory and issued for public safety. If an evacuation order is issued, do the following:
Plan ahead and work with your community to determine what safe shelters are available for farm animals. Keep in mind your animals may be evacuated to a centralized location and will comingle with other animals. Always ensure the following:
Protect yourself and your family first. There may be circumstances where the risk to life is great, but there is not enough time to evacuate your animals. After ensuring the safety of yourself and your family, if it is safe to do so and time permits, do the following:
Learn more about what you should do if an evacuation order is issued.
The process to repair and restore your life after an emergency or disaster is not easy and takes time, flexibility and patience.
Examples of recovery include:
If you had to evacuate, you can't return home until authorities have told you it's safe to do so. Use extreme caution at all times.
Do not enter your home of property if:
Emergencies and disasters challenge our coping skills and impact us in different ways. Sometimes we have emotional responses right away and sometimes they show up days, weeks, months or even years after.
Feelings of stress are normal, but some people can experience more severe distress and may require help. Monitor yourself and your loved ones for signs of distress which could include the following:
If any of these signs appear, make sure to talk about them and seek advice from a professional. Leduc County residents can call 2-1-1 to be connected to service providers in the community.
Contact Us