EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

Emily Gillies
7094287
ENVR72005
December 13, 2017

Assignment 2: Personal Emergency Preparedness Plan

1. Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (HIRA) Grid

The hazards associated with living in Paris, ON are as follows:

High probability, high impact

High probability, low impact
- power outage
- flood
- blizzard/freezing rain
- enteric disease outbreak

Low probability, high impact

Low probability, low impact
- drinking water contamination
- earthquake
- train derailment
- tornado
- fire

Identifying the hazards in the HIRA grid began by establishing what type of hazards
are prone to southwestern Ontario and then focusing in on Paris, Ontario. Hazards were
assessed based on the probability and impact that would have in causing an
emergency. Initially I looked at the Get Prepared webpage by the Government of
Canada and County of Brant’s Emergency Planning webpage, which described general
hazards likely to occur within the Ontario and our county. Then I proceeded to consider
my neighborhood more specifically.

Paris is a small town that is nestled along the Nith and Grand rivers, and is
surrounded by farmland. Solely based on this information hazards such as drinking
water contamination, flood, and tornado were determined. Luckily, our location is away
from both rivers and is at a higher elevation, making flooding a lesser probability. The
water we are supplied is a municipal source and is monitored regularly by governing
officials, decreasing a high impact emergency from unfolding. Though tornadoes are
EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

capable of forming in our location, they are rare, but weather updates of severe winds
provided from Environment Canada will never be ignored.

By walking around my neighborhood, there is a set of train tracks and the landfill site
approximately 2km away from my home (seen on Map 1 in the Appendix). Though this
may be a relatively safe distance if a derailment occurred, the factor that may have
more of a safety impact is what is being transported on the train. As a small and older
town, the citizens of Paris are of a more susceptible population and tend to be very
social, hosting weekly events where local farmers sell produce, bake sales, etc. creating
environments in which enteric diseases may be spread more easily. Without trying to
avoid these social events altogether, ensuring that my own health is not compromised,
washing my hands, and refraining from poor food handling practices should help to limit
enteric disease transfer.

2. Plan to prepare for emergency

In order to be prepared for any emergency, I will ensure the following general activities
are completed:
- Emergency checklist created
o Includes contents of emergency kit, and any other urgent matters that
need to be addressed (ex: papers to gather, emergency gas shut off, etc.)
- Plan home evacuation routes and review will all members of the household
(Maps 2-5 in Appendix)
- Include Emergency Plan document created on the Government of Canada’s
website into emergency kit (attached as separate document)
o Includes emergency meetings spots, family contacts, medical information,
utility providers, insurance, emergency service contacts (fire, police,
paramedics, poison control)
o Include copy in car emergency kit
- Fire alarms and extinguisher are checked annually

In the event that an actual emergency would take place, I would ensure that I
gathered as much information as possible relating to the emergency in order to
determine what actions are needed. I would then make contact with my significant other
to ensure his safety and then proceed to initiate our emergency plan. Depending what
our locations are and the nature of the emergency, we will ensure that our actions will
be guided by the information provided by the Emergency crews and Public Health
Professionals, remembering to remain calm throughout the situation.
EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

3. Emergency Preparedness Kit

Contained in my Home Emergency kit is:

• Canned, non-perishable soap, face towel)

food • Disposable cutlery, garbage
• Water for 72hours (for 2 bags, can opener
people) • Pocket knife/multi-tool
• Important papers • Candles, matches
(identification, passport, • Blanket and/or sleeping bag
contact numbers, cash)*** • 1 pair of spare clothing (for
• Frist aid kit 2)
• Flash light • Spare car key
• Batteries* • Walkie-talkies**
• Toiletries (shampoo, • Whistle*
toothbrush, toothpaste, • Cards, puzzle, activity book

Contained in my Car Emergency kit is:

• Bottles of water • Blanket

• Snacks (granola bars, • Flashlight, batteries
canned goods) • Ice scraper/brush
• First aid kit • Matches
• Jumper cables • Seat belt cutter*
• Shovel • Road maps
• Compass* • Outlet adapter
• Gloves, scarf, sweater

Pictures of both kits are attached in the Appendix

*To be purchased from the store

**Walkie-talkies are located at my parent’s house and to be added to my emergency kit
*** Important papers and cash will be gathered in the event of the emergency
EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

4. Reflection
In the event of an emergency while I was working as an Environmental Public Health
Professional, my emergency preparedness plans would change slightly. I would still
perform the beginning tasks noted in section 2, where I would contact my significant
other and ensure he is safe as well as initiate our preparedness plan. The difference
would be that now we would be completing our emergency plans separately as he
would be evacuating/sheltering-in-place, whereas I would be going to work or
completing work-in-place. Throughout the emergency I would ensure that contact
between the two of us is maintained to ensure safety for us both, but a priority would be
placed on managing the emergency in order to ensure that the public is safe as well.

I think that as an Environmental Public Health Professional (EPHP), you need to

think about the safety of others, especially in an emergency situation, more so than if
you were experiencing the emergency as a normal citizen. It places a very large
responsibility on the shoulders of EPHPs. I commend all people involved in
emergencies, hoping one day I will be able to contribute my knowledge to ensuring the
safety of the public in similar situations.

References:
https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/yprprdnssgd/index-en.aspx

http://www.brant.ca/en/explore-our-services/emergency-planning.asp

MTO EDR Road Closure Action Plan Guideline Manual 2014

EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

Appendix

Map 1 – Satellite overview of Paris, ON. The yellow star indicates where I live, and the orange line
represents a set of train tracks
EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

Map 2: Home layout with emergency exits indicated by the colours (doors and
windows), as well as the initial exit routes indicated in pink.

bedroom

Master bedroom
kitchen

Living
room bathroom

Map 3: Emergency evacuation route leading to highway 403 from my house, as

depicted in map 1 and 3, as well as to highway 24 (map 2)
EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

Map 4: The Emergency Detour Route for the County of Brant described by the Ministry
of Transportation of Ontario. This coincides with Map 3

Map 5: Our alternate evacuation route out of Paris, that takes us to our emergency
meeting spot at Highway 24 between Cambridge and Brantford.
EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

Home emergency kit

- Flashlight, batteries, whistle and walkie-talkies need to be added to the kit
EGillies (7094287) Dec 13, 2017 ENVR72005

Car Emergency Kit

- Water, non-perishable foods, flashlight and batteries need to be added