(Barrie, ON) – The City of Barrie is joining communities across Canada in recognizing Emergency Preparedness Week, May 4 to 10. This year’s theme, “Be Prepared. Know Your Risks” highlights the importance of understanding local hazards and taking proactive steps to ensure households are ready when emergencies occur.
“Recent events such as the 2025 ice storm and the 2021 Barrie tornado remind us that emergencies can occur quickly and without warning,” says Fire Chief Kevin White. “Barrie Fire and Emergency Service trains year-round to respond to complex incidents and protect our community, but preparedness begins at home.”
Residents can strengthen their emergency preparedness by following three key steps:
- Know the risks - Understanding the hazards that can affect our community helps residents better prepare. In Barrie, common risks include severe winter storms and ice events, localized flooding during spring thaw, and tornadoes and severe thunderstorms during the summer months.
- Make a plan - Having a household emergency plan helps families know what to do before, during, and after an emergency. Plans should include communication strategies, meeting locations, and considerations for children, older adults, pets, and other vulnerable family members.
- Prepare an Emergency Kit - Barrie Fire and Emergency Service (BFES) recommends households prepare to be self-sufficient for a minimum of five days (120 hours) to ensure greater resilience during extended emergencies or service disruptions.
Throughout the month of May, BFES will be sharing preparedness tips, emergency planning ideas, and community resilience information on social media.
Emergency Preparedness Week is a national awareness initiative led by Public Safety Canada, in collaboration with provincial, territorial, and municipal emergency management organizations.
Visit getprepared.ca for more resources to help you and your family prepare for all types of emergencies.
Visit barrie.ca/EmergencyManagement to learn more about the City of Barrie’s preparedness, seasonal emergencies, tornadoes, response, recovery and more.
