By Aaron Haugen (@ahaugie on Twitter)

Recent events highlighting the importance of Emergency Preparedness Week

May 6, 2016 | 1:29 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Emergency Preparedness Week is having a greater impact in Alberta this year.

The events in Fort McMurray have highlighted the need for having a plan in place in the event of an emergency.

In Lethbridge, the Municipal Emergency Plan is the set of procedures used by the city to coordinate and respond to major incidents in the city.

Rick Hildebrand, Chief of Lethbridge Fire and EMS, said the plan includes steps to take in the rare event of an evacuation of a neighborhood or large portion of the city.

“We would use our police resources as well as social media and the the emergency alerting system to identify which areas were to be evacuated and give them some sense of direction as to where they should be going,” he said.

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Shirley Diaz, manager of community outreach for the Red Cross in Lethbridge, said that preparation is key in case of an emergency.

“First, and foremost, you have to be aware of what the risks are in your community,” she said. “And then, second, you have to make a plan for evacuation and third, and most importantly, you need to make a kit that’s very mobile. Something that’s accessible to you and that you can grab right away.”

More information on the city’s emergency plan can be found on the City of Lethbridge’s website while more information on emergency preparedness can be found at the Alberta Emergency Management Agency website or the Canadian Red Cross website.