Get prepared during Emergency Preparedness Week
May 7 – 13, 2023, is Emergency Preparedness Week, a national awareness initiative supported by Public Safety Canada. This week, SFU Emergency Management brings you the top five ways you can be personally prepared in an emergency, whether at work, school or home.
It’s impossible to know when an emergency will happen, so Emergency Preparedness Week is an opportunity to get prepared by understanding the risks in your area and how to protect yourself proactively should an emergency occur.
The SFU Emergency Management team is here to support you! They take a comprehensive approach to planning, response and recovery from emergencies or disasters. Mitigating potential hazards or crises to protect the safety and well-being of the campus community is their top priority. They have the resources for you to get involved and feel empowered to prepare yourself in advance.
"Preparing for emergencies is like wearing a seatbelt - you hope you never need it, but it's comforting to know it's there if you do." - Alisa Zukanovic, Program Manager, Emergency and Continuity Planning.
Know where to get emergency information
SFU has several emergency communications tools useful in the event of an emergency.
- Alertus desktop notifications
- Snap App
- SFU Twitter | SFU.ca
- Email notifications to all faculty, staff and students with a current SFU email address
- Digital Campus Screens
Understand SFU emergency evacuation procedures
Though the reason for evacuation may not be immediately clear, always evacuate at the sound of an alarm and follow the directions of wardens, building evacuation coordinators, security and first responders. For more information, visit the SFU Building Evacuation page.
Get prepared
In an emergency, you’ll need some basic supplies that should last you at least 72 hours. Best practices suggest building a kit in a backpack or an easy-to-carry bag that everyone in your household knows where to find. Ensure it’s easy to reach and contains basics such as food, water and a battery-operated flashlight. For guidance on how to build your emergency preparedness kit and plan, visit the Get Prepared website or the Get Prepared: Emergency Car Kit page.
Get involved on campus
Volunteers play an important role in supporting the campus community during emergencies and promoting emergency preparedness. If you’re interested in getting involved, there are a few opportunities, such as Emergency Preparedness Training or becoming a Floor Warden. Visit our Get Involved page or reach out to srs_em@sfu.ca directly.
Want to be even more prepared? Search through the Get Prepared federal website, which has many emergency preparedness resources, guides and more.
The Enterprise Risk and Resilience department provides leadership around strategic and operational risks at SFU. ERR offers services, resources and programs, including emergency preparedness, insurance risk mitigation and management, travel safety and more.
F T I