Jasper wildfire: These are the key things to grab in emergency evacuations
Global News
Experts say there is a list of things people should be prepared to grab quickly as they leave their homes for safer communities and designated reception centres.
Everyone in Jasper and Jasper National Park in Alberta has been asked to evacuate as of late Monday night, as a fire approaches the community.
Experts say there is a list of things people should be prepared to grab quickly as they leave their homes for safer communities and designated reception centres.
“Everyone now is in the process of evacuating the town and all the outlying accommodation, campgrounds, every other structure and facility in Jasper National Park is under evacuation,” Jasper Mayor Richard Ireland told Global News on Monday night.
The emergency alert initially said the fire was expected to reach the community in five hours, or around 3 a.m. Tuesday, but was later updated around 11 p.m. to clarify that everyone in the community needed to be out by then.
So what should you bring if you need to flee?
FireSmart Canada recommends having a “ready to go kit” or an emergency kit ready ahead of time if you live in a vulnerable community. This kit should include things such as cash, a portable radio, prescription medications, eyeglasses, a change of clothes, pet food, flashlights and batteries.
The Municipality of Jasper’s official evacuation guide says evacuees should have six litres of water per person in their kits, along with a copy of their emergency plan, including emergency contact numbers.
The guide also recommends carrying your prescription record from your pharmacy, a three-day supply of non-perishable food per person, an extra set of car keys and a first aid kit. The kit should also have copies of important documents like birth certificates, passports, insurance and bank records.