Islanders encouraged to participate in Emergency Preparedness Week

April 30, 2025

Emergency Preparedness Week will take place across Canada beginning on May 4th through May 10th and the Prince Edward Island Emergency Measures Organization (EMO) is hosting free events for Islanders looking to become better prepared.

The theme for Emergency Preparedness Week 2025 is: Be Prepared. Know Your Risks. PEI EMO is offering a number of presentations and educational opportunities throughout the week at the following locations:

–    Monday May 5th at Credit Union Place (511 Notre Dame St, Summerside PE), 6pm: Emergency Preparedness and FireSmart Presentation;
–    Tuesday May 6th at Charlottetown Library Rotary Auditorium (97 Queen St, Charlottetown, PE), 5:30pm: Emergency Preparedness and FireSmart Presentation;
–    Wednesday May 7th at Abegweit Connects Building (24 Kitpu St, Scotchfort PE), 6pm: Emergency Preparedness and FireSmart Presentation;
–    Thursday May 8th at John J Sark Memorial School (24 Eagle Feather Trail, Lennox Island PE), 6pm: Emergency Preparedness and FireSmart Presentation;
–    Friday May 9th at Cavendish Wellness Centre (21 Sullivan Dr, Montague PE), 6pm: Emergency Preparedness and FireSmart Presentation;
–    Saturday May 10th at Allen St Sobeys (400 University Ave, Charlottetown, PE), 10am: PEI Non-Governmental Organization Council emergency vehicle showcase

PEI EMO is also reminding all Islanders that every year during Emergency Preparedness Week, a test alert on the Alert Ready system is conducted. This year, residents of PEI will receive a test alert on Wednesday May 7, 2025, at approximately 12:55pm.

“Every year, Emergency Preparedness Week serves as a great reminder to update our household emergency kits, and plan for emergency events in the future. I encourage anyone interested in learning more about emergency preparedness to attend the free events put on by our EMO team.” – Deputy Premier and Minister of Justice and Public Safety Bloyce Thompson

Alert Ready is the Canadian emergency alerting system. It delivers critical information to television, radio, and compatible wireless devices to ensure that citizens are aware and can take the appropriate steps in the event of immediate risk or danger.

For more information on the Alert Ready system, including to check device compatibility visit Alert Ready. (link is external) For more information on how to be prepared for an emergency visit, How to be Prepared for an Emergency.

Media contact:
Kip Ready
Senior Communications Officer
Department of Justice & Public Safety and Emergency Measures Organization
kjready@gov.pe.ca (link sends e-mail)

Backgrounder:

Islanders are encouraged to take the following steps when preparing for hurricanes or other emergencies by:
•    making a household emergency plan so that everyone knows what to do in case of emergency;
•    updating your preparedness kits, including extra food, pet supplies, water, masks and hygiene products;
•    bringing in or tying down furniture, play equipment, barbeques or anything that can become projectiles in the event of high winds;
•    ensuring you have fuel for generators and vehicles, as well as propane for outdoor cooking devices such as barbeques;
•    replacing batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms;
•    never operating a generator or barbeque anywhere inside a home, including a garage. Best practice is to keep a generator 20 feet from the home and pointing the exhaust away from the home;
•    ensuring a generator is not operating in heavy rain unless the generator has a top cover protecting the electrical system; and
•    keeping up with the latest information from reliable sources such as following PEI Government, local media, and law enforcement social media channels.

NT5