You never know when an emergency might strike. There’s always a risk – from extreme weather to industrial accidents – and it’s important to be prepared.
Marlene Funk, Emergency Management Coordinator for the City of Swift Current, works with various teams and resources across the province to make sure plans are in place to support our community should an emergency arise.
“Swift Current is particularly vulnerable to severe summer storms, tornadoes, flash flooding, grass fires, train derailments, and hazardous material spills. Perhaps extended power outages, and part of the global trends being pandemics and now cybersecurity threats,” said Funk. “These hazards can disrupt so many things, such as essential services, transportation, communications, and really anything else, which can put a halt on people's daily activities.”
To make sure the City is prepared for any emergency, they perform a Hazard Risk Vulnerability Assessment (HVRA) using resources such as provincial guidelines and local data.
“We look at our geography, historical incidents, weather trends, and infrastructure vulnerabilities, which all become part of the assessment,” said Funk. “These assessments help prioritize emergency planning and resource allocation.”
Using information gathered from the HVRA, the City creates an Emergency Management Plan. This plan outlines what actions need to be taken during emergencies and who needs to be involved in the emergency response.
Emergency Notifications
The City has multiple channels for keeping residents informed during emergencies, including the Sask Alert mobile app, the Voyant Alert app, radio stations, and the City website.
“The Voyant App is used to broadcast emergency notifications,” said Funk. “We encourage all City of Swift Current residents to sign up for it. Just type in Voyant Alert [wherever you download your apps] and follow the instructions (which are very clear and intuitive).”
She continued, “This app allows the City of Swift Current to highlight specific areas on a map that may need to evacuate, and show evacuation routes. We can tailor each emergency notification to our very specific needs. Depending on the severity of an emergency, there may even be door to door notifications that end up taking place.”
The City’s Emergency Management team regularly updates their emergency plans, training their staff and networking with government agencies and other municipalities to improve their response and expand available resources. The team acts as a central coordinating body, bringing together firefighters, police, EMS, public works, and provincial partners. These services share information, resources, and responsibilities under a unified emergency response plan.
Always Be Prepared for an Emergency
While the City of Swift Current, and emergency services like the Swift Current Fire Department, will do everything they can to help the community during emergencies, it’s important to have an emergency kit and a household emergency plan to keep you and your family safe if a shelter-in-place order is issued, or until first responders arrive.
“A household plan should outline safe exits, meeting points, emergency contacts, and responsibilities for each family member. Practice it regularly and update it as needed,” said Funk.
If a shelter-in-place order is issued, stay indoors.
“Sheltering in place means staying indoors during an emergency when going outside is unsafe, such as during hazardous material release or severe weather,” said Funk. “You may need to close windows, seal doors, and turn off ventilation systems. Listen to official sources to know when it's safe to come out. As we're heading into summer tornado warnings, you'll want to go to the lowest place in your residence, such as a basement and put as many walls between you and the outside.”
Emergency kits should have water and non-perishable food to last a minimum of 72 hours. You should also check your emergency kits at least twice a year for expired food and medications, as well as updating personal documents and changing out seasonal items.
Funk said the following items should be included in your emergency kit:
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Drinking water (four litres of water per person per day)
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Non-perishable food items
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Medications,
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A flashlight with extra batteries
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A first aid kit
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Phone chargers
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Copies of important documents and the contact information of your people
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Resources that detail where to when you need help (especially if your phone dies)
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Some cash
“You should also pack supplies for infants, seniors, or pets if needed. Consider including masks and hygiene supplies as well. Start with the basics (minimum survival needs) and then build from there,” she added.
If you have infants, seniors, people with disabilities, or pets in your care, you should include any items needed for their care.
“Include pets by ensuring you have carriers, food, leashes, and plans for where they can stay if evacuation is necessary, because not all pets can come with you. Label pet items clearly in your kit,” said Funk.
“Vulnerable residents, such as seniors, people with mobility challenges, or those with specific medical needs, should create a support network in advance as part of their household emergency planning,” she continued. “Inform caregivers, neighbours, or local services about your needs and develop your plan from there.”
If you have questions or are looking for emergency planning resources, don’t hesitate to reach out to the City of Swift Current Emergency Management team or the Swift Current Fire Department.
Learn more about the Voyant Alert app on the City of Swift Current website.
