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Emergency preparedness

View all active Alberta Emergency Alerts.

Major emergencies or disasters can happen anywhere, any time or any place. Although we may not be able to avoid an occurrence, we can be prepared. 

Being informed can help you better prepare for emergencies, disasters and life’s inconveniences. 

  • Download the Alberta Emergency Alert app for life saving alerts. Alberta issues alerts to provide critical information about an immediate disaster and what action you need to take to stay safe.
  • Sign up to receive local emergency and resident communications through your myAIRDRIE account. 
  • Start a conversation. Talk to your friends and family about what you can do to manage emergencies, disasters, and unexpected inconveniences before they occur.
  • Know the risks – if you know the hazards in your community, you know how to prepare for them.
  • If you would  like a copy of the Municipal Emergency Management Plan to gain an understanding of how the City responds during an emergency, please contact the Emergency Management Coordinator at: 403.948.8800 ext 7603

Plan. Pack. Prepare.

72 hours - Is your family prepared?

In the event of an emergency, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you as they need to focus on those in desperate need. Public Safety Canada advises that you should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.

Use the information below to create your own emergency plan and checklists to build an emergency kit.

Plan

Although the consequences of various disasters can be similar, knowing the risks in your region can help you better plan for an emergency.

In Alberta, we could be faced with a blizzard, tornado, wildfire or heavy rains. In addition to natural disasters there are other types of risks such as power outages, industrial and transportation incidents.

The Pocket Guide to Emergencies or GetPrepared.ca can be helpful tools to identify risks you could face. The Canadian Disaster Database offers more information on disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards, technological hazards or conflict.

Every household needs an Emergency Plan

This plan will take about 20 minutes to create and will ensure that you and your family know what to do in the event of an emergency.

Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.

Pack

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies so you and your family can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

Work with your family and use the checklists below to develop emergency kits for use in emergencies. You may have to stay in your home without electricity or water, or you may have to evacuate your home for a period of time.

Update your emergency kits once a year when you change your clocks in the spring or the fall. This is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as the batteries, food and water in your emergency kit.

Prepare

Do your best to stay well informed and prepare yourself in the event of an emergency by thinking ahead.

Know your Neighbourhood

Work with your neighbours to identify people who may need extra help during an emergency. Assign 'block buddies' to help ensure that everyone is taken care of.

Review your plan

Update your emergency plan and kit once a year when you change your clocks in the spring or the fall. This is also a good time to change the batteries in your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, as well as the batteries, food and water in your emergency kit.

Have an Emergency Car Kit

If you have a car, prepare an emergency car kit and keep it in your vehicle. 

For more emergency preparedness information, follow @Get_Prepared on Twitter.

If you are asked to evacuate...

Authorities will not ask you to leave your home unless they believe that you may be in danger.

If you are ordered to evacuate, remember to take your:

  • emergency kit
  • wallet
  • personal identification for each family member
  • copies of essential family documents 
  • cellular phone and spare battery or charger 

If you have time, call or e-mail an out-of-town contact. Tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Once you are safe, let them know. Tell them if any family members have become separated.

If possible, leave a note at your house telling others when you left and where you are. Shut off water and electricity if officials tell you to do so.

Leave natural gas service on unless officials tell you to turn it off. If you turn off the gas, the gas company has to reconnect it. In a major emergency, it could take weeks for a professional to respond.

Take pets with you and lock your home. Use the travel routes specified by local authorities.

If you go to an evacuation centre, register your personal information at the registration desk.

Do not return home until authorities advise that it is safe to do so.

If you are asked to shelter-in-place...

You may be instructed to shelter-in-place if contaminants are released into the environment. This means you must remain inside your home or office and protect yourself there.

If you are advised to shelter-in-place:

  • Close and lock all windows and exterior doors
  • Turn off all fans, heating and air-conditioning systems to avoid drawing in air from the outside
  • Close the fireplace damper
  • Get your emergency kit and make sure the radio is working
  • Go to an interior room that's above ground level (one without windows if possible)
  • Use duct or other wide tape to seal all cracks around the door and any vents into the room
  • Continue to monitor your radio or television until you are told it is safe or are advised to evacuate.

Alberta Emergency Management Agency (AEMA) resources

To access the following materials translated into six different languages, refer to the links below and click on the Resources and translations link under the page header.