Emergency Preparedness

A disaster is an event resulting in serious harm to the safety, health or welfare of people or widespread damage to properties, and these can happen anywhere, anytime. The Town of Okotoks Protective Services, combined with other Town departments and provincial and federal agencies, will provide a prompt and coordinated response to a disaster affecting the citizens of Okotoks.

The Town of Okotoks has programs and services in place in order to prepare for, respond to, and recover from all potential hazards including natural disasters and technological or human-caused incidents. Residents can do their part to ensure they are prepared for an emergency, not only within their home but also within their business.

Emergency Preparedness Guide

This guide is an easy-to-understand information on home and personal emergency preparedness to help Okotokians better protect themselves, family members and neighbours.

Alberta Emergency Alert (AEA)
Alert Ready

Alberta Emergency Alert has replaced the Safe Communities Network (SCAN) for local emergency notifications in Okotoks - sign up for alerts.

Any local Town impacted alerts that provide information on developing emergencies or serious alerts from other areas will be delivered to you via the Alberta Emergency Alert app, the Alberta Emergency Alert website, and the Town social media accounts.

About the Alberta Emergency Alert

Alberta Emergency Alert is an alerting system available in Alberta that provides critical information about developing and immediate disasters. Alerts are distributed through various means: radio, television, websites, Twitter, Facebook and the Alberta Emergency Alert App.

This is a provincial alert tool that is used by the Provincial government and various municipalities to communicate about emergencies.

Why download the app?

Download and install the app and then sign-up for emergency alerts from every region in Alberta or for regions that you choose.
If an alert is issued a message will be sent to your phone.
There are two categories of alerts: critical or information. Critical alerts are for imminent and life-threatening danger, such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes or Amber Alerts. Information alerts are for awareness and to encourage preparation for events such as severe storms, traffic disruption or air quality warnings.
The Alberta Emergency Alert App allows you to decide the alert tone and the region(s) in Alberta you can receive alerts from.

Setting up the app

Residents must download the mobile app to receive alerts through AEA in order to receive emergency notifications.

Once the app has been downloaded and installed:
- Ensure you setup emergency alerts for the Okotoks area
- Ensure you turn-on Critical and Advisory alerts. If these are not turned on, you will not receive alerts from the Town

AEA setup guide

What’s the difference between a critical alert and an advisory alert?

Critical alerts are for imminent and life-threatening danger, such as floods, wildfires, tornadoes or Amber Alerts.
Advisory alerts are for less urgent information and to prepare the public for potential emergency events related to their property and/or the environment such as severe storms or water quality warnings.

RESOURCES

Government of Alberta Fact Sheet: Alert Ready & Alberta Emergency Alert

Frequently Asked Questions - Alberta Emergency Management Agency

Are You Alert Ready?

Urgent public safety messages for local emergencies now come directly to your compatible smartphone.

The national wireless public alerting system, Alert Ready, marks a significant change to the way the public will receive alert messages. The short alert message you receive on your phone will be the first indication of a serious emergency event and compliments other alert distribution methods such as radio/TV and social media.

The Government of Canada requires that all compatible wireless devices receive all relevant alerts. You are not able to opt-out. You will only receive alerts if you are in the impacted area. If you are travelling and are in a region that is affected, you will also receive that alert.

IS MY SMARTPHONE COMPATIBLE?

To receive alerts, the wireless device must be:

A wireless public alerting (WPA) compatible device, like a smartphone, capable of connecting to an LTE network (LTE is commonly referred to as “4G LTE”)
Equipped with the latest version of its operating software
Connected to an LTE cellular network at the time the emergency alert is issued or joins the network while the alert is still active.

To find out if your smartphone is compatible and to read some Frequently Asked Questions from your specific provider, visit alertready.ca and select your Wireless Carrier.

HOW DOES THIS WORK WITH ALBERTA EMERGENCY ALERT?

Only the most serious alerts will be sent out using the new wireless alerting system. Other alerts that provide information on developing emergencies or serious alerts from other areas will be delivered to you via the Alberta Emergency Alert app, social media and the Alberta Emergency Alert website.

It is important that you continue to use the Alberta Emergency Alert app as it is complementary to the new wireless alerting system. The new wireless alert will provide you with a short message, and the Alberta Emergency Alert app will provide more details and a map.

RESOURCES

Government of Alberta Fact Sheet: Alert Ready & Alberta Emergency Alert

Frequently Asked Questions - Alberta Emergency Management Agency

Are you prepared?

If there was an emergency…
- Do you know what to do?
- Where to go?
If you had to evacuate your home in 10 minutes…
- Do you know what you need?
- Where would you find it in your home?
Now more than ever it is important to learn how to prepare a Family Emergency Plan, a Grab and Go Kit, and a 72 Hour Basic Emergency Kit. Learn how to identify risks and discover why it’s important to be prepared.
Help your family be prepared for any emergency. To learn how to make a plan or what to do during an emergency, download the Emergency Preparedness Guide or pick up a copy at the Okotoks Municipal Centre.
Now’s the time to stock or restock your Emergency Kits! Here is a quick view of some sample kits listed below.
For more comprehensive information on how to build your emergency kits:
Building emergency kits
VEHICLE EMERGENCY KIT
As the weather changes, so should your supplies! Think about the supplies you’ll need as we head into spring.
- Pack a blanket, cell phone charger and small first aid kit in your vehicle.
- Replenish perishable snack items.
- Grab a flashlight and batteries!
- Always make sure you have a blanket, candle in a deep can and matches.
GRAB & GO LIST
A Grab & Go list is used when you have little or no notice to leave your home. It provides you with a list of valuable items and is a vital part of your emergency supplies.
- Do you have a copy of your important documents? Have any of these documents changed? Are they listed?
- Have you gathered any new priceless or irreplaceable items over the past year? Are they listed on your Grab & Go checklist?
- Think about medications that may be new to you or family members. Are they listed? Do you need different health-related supplies?
- Think about everyday items that you use: small but important things like specialized baby food, pet food, medications and comfort items.
72-HOUR KIT
You should be self-sufficient in an emergency for at least 72 hours. This allows emergency workers to focus on people who require urgent assistance. Plan to be without power and water.
- Stock up on a three-day supply of non-perishable food and water.
- Replenish stored food and water that are near or past the expiry date.
- Each year at this time, think about adding one new item to your kit such as an emergency radio, water purification bottle, fire extinguisher, portable generator, or a non-electric standby stove or heater.
- Are your battery-powered emergency items working? Do you have a supply of replacement batteries available?
- Have you made renovations to your home which require revisiting your emergency exit plans?
- Are your contacts up to date or are there new ones to add?
Learn more about building a 72-hour kit.
PET EMERGENCY KIT
Pets are an important part of any family and need to be considered in case of an emergency.
- Do you have extra food and medical supplies on hand and ready to go if you need to evacuate with your pet?
- Do you have a crate for your pet? The safest and easiest way to travel with your pet is securing them in a crate.

Popular Content

Popular Links

Alerts

Emergency Preparedness

Alberta Emergency Alert has replaced the Safe Communities Network (SCAN) for local emergency notifications in Okotoks - sign up for alerts.

About the Alberta Emergency Alert

Why download the app?

Setting up the app

What’s the difference between a critical alert and an advisory alert?

RESOURCES

Are You Alert Ready?

IS MY SMARTPHONE COMPATIBLE?

HOW DOES THIS WORK WITH ALBERTA EMERGENCY ALERT?

RESOURCES

Are you prepared?

VEHICLE EMERGENCY KIT

GRAB & GO LIST

72-HOUR KIT

PET EMERGENCY KIT

What do you do if an emergency occurs?

Emergency Numbers

Resources

Alerts

Emergency Preparedness

Alberta Emergency Alert has replaced the Safe Communities Network (SCAN) for local emergency notifications in Okotoks - sign up for alerts.

About the Alberta Emergency Alert

Why download the app?

Setting up the app

What’s the difference between a critical alert and an advisory alert?

RESOURCES

Are You Alert Ready?

IS MY SMARTPHONE COMPATIBLE?

HOW DOES THIS WORK WITH ALBERTA EMERGENCY ALERT?

RESOURCES

Are you prepared?

What do you do if an emergency occurs?

Resources

Related Links

Related Forms & Documents

Okotoks Fire & Rescue Information

Hours