Are you prepared for disaster?

Posted by: Michael Lynch

Old Ottawa South residents already know a lot about flooding, extreme heat, windstorms, ice storms, and house fires. We also know first aid and the basics of emergency preparedness, and we are pretty tech savvy too! As part of the OSCA Board, we want our community association to level up on resilience so we can all help each other through events like these. Keep reading to find out more!

Do you know what hazards could affect you and your family and how you may be vulnerable? Are you prepared for a hazard event? Do you know how best to respond to a hazard event? And afterwards how you would recover and, in fact, build back better?

Emergency management and risk reduction are continuous processes that strengthen our resilience to disasters, be they natural, anthropogenic (man-made), or technological. Emergency management minimizes the cost of a disaster event, potentially saving life or limb. Vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and people with disabilities suffer disproportionally when a disaster occurs. Do you know a neighbour who may welcome an offer of assistance during such an event?

Natural disasters have increased exponentially, both in terms of frequency and impact, worldwide. Earthquakes, landsides, tsunamis, wildland fires, floods (pluvial and fluvial), extreme heat events, severe storms, tornados, and pandemics are impacting Canadians. Other natural hazards, such as space weather, could be apocalyptic. Anthropogenic hazards include such things as chemical spills, terrorism, train derailments, and radioactive leaks. Suffice to say, that there are hundreds of hazard types.

Emergency management and disaster risk reduction require a whole-of-society response. Federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal governments work closely together, facilitated by emergency operations centres, emergency management plans, hazard risk assessments, financial assistance protocols, and even cross-border coordination. Added to that mix are critical infrastructure operators (e.g., utilities, road crews, communications), NGOs such as the Red Cross, local businesses keen to contribute to their host communities, insurance companies, first responders including fire-fighters, paramedics and police. Last, but not least: the community and you. After all, immediately after a hazard event, it is the affected community that is typically first on the scene.

The OSCA Board has formed a working group to look at emergency management in Old Ottawa South. OSCA would like to determine what role it can play: how best can it contribute to that whole-of-society effort and, notably, the city effort. That role could include helping to educate residents on the types of hazards they may face and how best to prepare, respond to, and recover from an event. This could be accomplished through actions like information sessions, OSCAR articles, and first aid training. It could include preparing the Firehall to be used as a community hub in the event of a disaster. OSCA could work with businesses to make emergency management kits available – for a nominal fee. Should you wish to participate on the working group or help in another way, please email OSCA at: info@oldottawasouth.ca or fill in the contact form at: oldottawasouth.ca/contact

How to get ready

In the past couple of months, OSCA board members have participated in presentations from the City’s emergency management coordinator and the Red Cross. Both have a wealth of information on everything from assembling an emergency kit (to keep you safe in your home for the first 72 hours after disaster strikes) to a card to drop into a neighbour’s mailbox introducing yourself as someone who cares.

At Fall Fest on Saturday, October 3, from noon to 4 pm at Windsor Park, the City’s emergency management coordinator will be on hand to answer questions and provide handouts and information on getting ready for an emergency. Please stop by and find out whether you are ready for an emergency.

Michael Lynch is a long-time resident of Old Ottawa South, who has served on the OSCA Board, including as president. He brings years of experience in building resilience and responding to emergencies to the new working group.Michael Lynch is a long-time resident of Old Ottawa South, who has served on the OSCA Board, including as president. He brings years of experience in building resilience and responding to emergencies to the new working group.

Featured in the September 2026 OSCAR.