Ottawa, October 18, 2011 — Today, at the National Roundtable for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Honourable Vic Toews, Canada’s Minister of Public Safety, unveiled two online tools to help Canadians prepare for emergencies. The first, the enhanced Canadian Disaster Database, will help Canadians learn about risks affecting their regions. The second, a mobile-friendly Get Prepared site, gives Canadians mobile access to steps they can take to prepare for and to cope during emergencies.
“The Government of Canada is working to reduce risks by ensuring all Canadians have access to information to keep them safe prior to and during emergencies,” said Minister Toews. “In using the Canadian Disaster Database, Canadians can learn about risks that have historically affected their region, allowing them to prepare for emergencies. Recent disasters have demonstrated the value of mobile technology in getting information to those in need.”
Public Safety is also offering Canadians tools to help them better know their risks, and to be better prepared to respond when disasters occur in their communities. The Canadian Disaster Database provides Canadians with a wealth of information about disasters since 1900, from floods and forest fires to pandemics and earthquakes. The database has been enhanced to allow Canadians access to this information with new search categories, which are easy to use and displayed on an interactive map.
The new mobile device-friendly Get Prepared website gives Canadians access to information on the steps they can take to stay safe from anywhere, at anytime. The mobile site includes convenient features, such as emailing an emergency kit shopping list to family and friends. Site content was developed with input from Public Safety Canada’s “72 Hours” campaign partners, including the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, and The Salvation Army, as well as provincial and territorial emergency management organizations.
The National Roundtable on Disaster Risk Reduction is a gathering of disaster risk experts and stakeholders from all levels of government, non-government organizations, academia, and the private sector, who are focussed on better protecting Canadians by reducing disaster risks. Since the launch of Canada’s National Platform on Disaster Risk Reduction last year, stakeholders have been working to integrate the disaster risk reduction concept in policies, plans and programs across Canada.
Canadians can follow @Get_Prepared on Twitter for safety tips and practical information on how to prepare for emergencies.
For more information on disaster mitigation, please visit our website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
Information:
Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
