With rising water levels in the Outaouais, the CISSS wishes to remind you of precautionary measures and evacuation procedures in case they become necessary.
To shelter in place, have a home emergency kit containing seven essentials: six litres of drinking water per person, sufficient non-perishable food to last three days, a manual can opener, battery operated radio and spare batteries, a headlamp or flashlight and extra batteries (or a crank lamp), lighter (or matches) and candles, and a first aid kit with pain-killers, antiseptics, bandages, scissors and gauze.
Remember, in any disaster help may be slow in arriving so prepare your family emergency plan in advance.
Make a list of emergency contact information including family members and contacts for your daycare, school and municipality.
Ideally you will have an evacuation plan for your home with a central mustering point and have practised it.
If you are an apartment-dweller, use the stairs and not the elevator.
Should you have to leave your residence, turn off the water and utilities. Close the valves of propane and oil tanks.
Block basement septic lines if there is no backflow valve, and plug the drain in the basement.
Remove bulky objects from lower levels so they are not jostled by rising water.
Position valuables as high as possible the the dwelling, keeping hazardous materials away from children.
Have a way out of your neighbourhood, and a secondary route in case roads are blocked.
Keep a list of emergency contact numbers including 911, Info-Sante at 811, and quebec.ca/securite-situations-urgence/
To obtain the latest flood information, follow the social media of your municipality and Urgence Québec (Facebook Urgence Quebec and Twitter @urgencequebec) and listen to the regional media for appropriate instructions.
par Rick Stow
