Personal Preparedness

Tornado watch

• Issued when severe weather may happen. This is time for you to prepare.
• Tune into your local radio station for updates.

Tornado warning

• Issued when a severe storm or tornado has been sighted or indicated by radar.
• Stay indoors and tune in to your local media.
• Seek shelter in the basement or in an interior room and under sturdy furniture, if possible. Stay away from windows, doors and outside walls.

Flooding

• Stay indoors and tune into your local media.
• Stay away from floodwaters.
• Do not stack sandbags against your house. This adds pressure to the walls and can cause damage.
• Do not drink tap water.

Winter storms

• Stay indoors and tune in to local media.
• Do not over exert yourself while shovelling.
• Do not leave home unless necessary.
• Do not use barbecues or kerosene lanterns for indoor heating.
• Wear loose-fitting clothes and layer as needed.
• Have an emergency car kit, if you must travel.

Environment Canada

You may also want to check out Environment Canada's website for more tips, or to learn more about Weatheradio. This service offers weather and related information 24 hours a day, in both official languages. A weatheradio receiver can also be set up to automatically start broadcasting when Environment Canada issues a severe weather warning. The nationwide network has 180 sites across the country and reaches 92% of the Canadian population.

Chemical accidents could happen in the Nipissing and Parry Sound Districts in several ways, for example during a:

• Train derailment
• Transport truck incident
• Factory fire

If you are outside in a chemical emergency

• Stay upstream, uphill and upwind.
• Move so the wind is blowing from your left to your right, not at your back or in your face.
• Go indoors or in your car and close all windows and doors.
• Stay well away from the danger area.
• Follow instructions from local authorities.

If you are inside

• Stay inside and tune in to local media.
• Be prepared to follow all instructions given by emergency personnel.
• Close and lock all doors.
• Seal all entry points such as windows and doors with wet towels or duct tape.
• Close all fireplace dampers and turn off ventilation systems (air vents and furnaces).
• Use telephone only for emergencies such as fire, medical or police.
• If you suspect vapours have entered your home, take shallow breaths through a wet towel or cloth.

• Tune in to your local media for more information.
• When evacuating, stay calm.
• In the winter, ensure furnace is on.
• Make provisions for pets and/or farm animals.
• Check on elderly or infirm neighbours.
• Drive carefully; do not rush.
• By ignoring a warning to evacuate, you jeopardize your family and those who might have to save you.

School children

• Do not attempt to pick up your children at their school until notified by school staff; you will be informed where to pick them up when it is safe.
• The safety of your children is the emergency personnel's priority.

Disabled and the elderly

• Please be sure to help disabled and elderly citizens in the community.
• If you are able to do so, assist them in the event of an evacuation.
• Consider giving them rides.