The Ministry of Public Security has launched its disaster risk awareness campaign

The Ministry of Public Security has launched its disaster risk awareness campaign

The Ministry of Public Security has launched a campaign to raise awareness of the risks of disasters, in particular flooding, of which the number and severity have increased in recent years in Quebec. The government wishes to educate the population on the importance of preparing and informing citizens, in particular those living in flood-prone areas, on the steps to be taken upstream. CHIP 101.9 spoke with the spokesperson for this campaign, the actor (District 31) and ultramarathoner, Patrice Godin. He spoke about the need to have an emergency kit at home.

This kit should contain, among other things, water, non-perishable foods, a manual can opener, a battery-powered radio, a headlamp or flashlight, a lighter and first aid items. In addition, citizens are responsible for taking the necessary measures to prepare adequately depending on the type of disaster. For example, when it comes to flooding, they must check whether their home is in a flood zone, monitor the flooding and comply with the safety instructions in force.

“Citizens bear primary responsibility for their security. Regardless of the type of disaster, you should have the essentials and enough food to meet the needs of your family members for the first three days. For my part, I already have my emergency kit because I am committed to being able to take care of my loved ones in the event of unforeseen circumstances, ”said the spokesperson for the campaign from the Ministry of Public Security in matters of disaster risk awareness, Patrice Godin.

Highlights:
• The spring 2019 floods forced the evacuation of more than 13,000 people and more than 300 municipalities were affected across Quebec.
• In spring 2017, more than 4,000 people were evacuated and nearly 300 municipalities were affected by the floods.
• Other disasters are likely to occur in Quebec. The windstorm of autumn 2019 deprived 950,000 homes of electricity, many of them for more than a day, not to mention the historic ice storm of 1998 when 1.5 million customers experienced a power outage for days.

The French interview with Patrice Godin is available here.