Emergencies and disasters can happen, anytime, anywhere and often with little or no warning. Utilities can be out, roads closed and crucial supplies unavailable. By being prepared, communities and individuals can reduce the impact emergencies have on our lives, pets and property.

Ontario's Emergency Management Act defines an "emergency" as: "a situation or an impending situation caused by the forces of nature, an accident, an intentional act or otherwise that constitutes a danger of major proportions to life or property."

It is mandatory for all Ontario communities to have Emergency Management Programs (Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act R.S.O. 1990, c.E.9) based on local hazards and risks, which are regulated by Emergency Management Ontario (EMO), a branch of the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.

Emergency Management is necessary to improve public safety and security; achieved by addressing the four areas of emergency management - mitigation/prevention, preparedness, response and recovery.

• Mitigation and Prevention: involves activities which reduce or eliminate the effects of an emergency or disaster
• Preparedness: actions taken prior to an emergency or disaster to ensure an effective response; includes public education, emergency information, training and annual exercises and preparing plans, operation centres and communications systems
• Response: involves actions taken to respond to an emergency; could include distribution of vaccines during a pandemic, mobilizing human, financial and supply resources, plus emergency declarations
• Recovery: includes the activities required to return the community to its pre-emergency state