Review the following tips on being prepared in the case of an emergency. Once completed you should be all set to ace the quiz and be entered in the contest.

Everyone has a role to play in making sure we all stay safe in emergencies. The municipality commits significant resources to ensure our public buildings, roads, bridges, and you are safe.

Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency leads the initial response to emergencies and disasters. In the event of an emergency, residents can follow the @hfxgov Twitter account. Depending on the nature of the emergency or threat, information will be provided as well as other sources to monitor for critical information.

Be prepared
Every household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family or roommates know what to do in case of an emergency. Members of the home may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.

In the case of an emergency, you should be prepared for 72 hours. There may be certain situations where you are not able to, or it is not safe to evacuate your home, like a power outage, severe hurricane or flu pandemic. You should be prepared to be self-sufficient in your home for 72 hours (or seven to 10 days in a health emergency).

When making your home emergency plan, you will need to think about the following:

•    Safe exits from home and neighbourhood
•    Meeting places to reunite with family or roommates
•    Designated person to pick up children should you be unavailable
•    Contact persons close-by and out-of-town
•    Special health needs
•    Place for your pet to stay
•    Risks in your region
•    Location of your fire extinguisher, water valve, electrical box, gas valve and floor drain

*Photocopy your plan and keep it in your car and/or at work.

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Make sure your kit is easy to carry, and everyone in the household knows where it is. Keep it in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front-hall closet.

The following items should be included in a basic household emergency kit:

•    Drinking water – at least two litres per person per day and one litre per pet per day
•    Food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (replace food and water once a year)
•    Manual can opener and bottle opener
•    Wind-up or battery-powered flashlight and radio (and extra batteries)
•    First aid kit
•    Extra keys to your car and house
•    Cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills
•    A copy of your emergency plan and contact information
•    Special items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities or food, water and medication for your pets or service animal (personalize your kit according to your needs)

*Keep a corded phone in your home, as most cordless phones will not work during a power outage.

Note: Due to the potential for a fire hazard, it is recommended that candles NOT be included in an emergency kit. Instead use a wind-up/ battery-powered flashlight.

During an emergency, tap water can become polluted, or supply may be cut off. Residents of the municipality should store at least two litres of water per person, per day. A 72-hour supply of water should always be on hand for family members and pets. It is important to rotate your water supply and add fresh water to your kit on a yearly basis.

The Halifax Region is faced with a variety of potential weather-related emergency situations.  These include winter storms, gas leaks, forest fires, tropical storms/ hurricanes, with floods being the most common. In addition to natural disasters, there are other types of risks, such as power outages and industrial or transportation accidents.

Flooding is the most common and costly natural disaster in the Halifax region. Floods occur when there is substantial or steady rain, or large amounts of melting snow for several hours or days, which oversaturates the ground. All rivers in Canada experience flooding at one time or another. Hurricanes, violent storms, ice jams or dams breaking can also lead to flash flooding. The potential for flood damage is high where there is development on low-lying, flood-prone lands.

Find more information on being prepared in times of emergency on thewww.halifax.ca/Emergency-Management to be prepared in the event of an emergency.

Know your risks, make a plan, and have an emergency kit. Think ahead and be ready.

Official contest rules  (https://www.halifax.ca/sites/default/files/documents/emergency-services/fire/Emergency_Preparedness_Week_2018_Contest_Rules.pdf)

Now it’s time to take the quiz. Good luck!