Sarnia-Lambton residents are encouraged to learn more about shelter-in-place advisories during this year's Emergency Preparedness Week.
Tracy Krull is the Communications and Engagement Coordinator with the Bluewater Association for Safety, Environment, and Sustainability, or BASES.
She said while the community has 15 community sirens which are tested every Monday at 12:30 p.m., up until now, she's never really thought about what to do if those sirens go off in an actual emergency.
"So part of what we're doing during this Emergency Preparedness Week is getting out into the community and raising awareness on what to do if those sirens go off, which is go inside and stay tuned for more information," said Krull. "And really trying to promote where to go to find more information and to get updates if a shelter-in-place advisory is called."
Krull said if an advisory is issued, it's recommended that residents bring all people and pets inside and stay inside, close all windows and secure doors, and stay tuned for updates through Sarnia-Lambton Alerts, the community hotline (226-778-4611), connect with the local municipality and tune into local media.
Krull said the number one place to go for information in the event of an emergency would be Sarnia-Lambton Alerts.
"We do have a community alerting system and we work with local industry as well as the municipalities -- so the City of Sarnia, the County of Lambton -- they'll put out an alert if an advisory is issued," she said. "And then staying tuned to the media as well for updates."
Krull said the group will also post updates on the BASES website at www.lambtonbases.ca.
This year's Emergency Preparedness Week got underway on Sunday, May 7 and wraps up on Saturday, May 13.
Krull said during the week, there's a prize up for grabs for people practicing their shelter-in-place plans.
"Take a picture and upload it to Facebook using the hashtag #EPWeek2023SLont, and if you post your picture by Sunday night, you'll be entered into a draw to win an emergency preparedness kit worth over $500,"she said. "None of us want an emergency, but it's something that we want to talk about before it happens, so that if in the uneventful event of an emergency, we know what to do and it's just second nature."
The prize pack includes a 72-hour emergency kit, some gas gift cards, a Valley Axe gift card and other emergency preparedness merchandise.