The City of Steinbach was recently presented with the Manitoba Community Emergency Preparedness award which demonstrates excellence in developing and maintaining emergency preparedness programs.
“This award speaks to the great work in our community to ensure there is a plan in place to keep our citizens safe,” said Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen. “Council appreciates the work and detail that goes into emergency planning for the City.”
The award, presented by the Manitoba Emergency Measures organization, recognizes the City of Steinbach’s efforts to achieve an outstanding emergency preparedness program. In 2015 Steinbach implemented, Steinbach Alert Now (steinabachalertnow.ca), an emergency notification system, where residents sign up for free to be notified by phone call, email, and text during an emergency. Steinbach is also the only community in Canada with a Storm Ready program where volunteers are trained to watch the skies and report on developments during extreme weather.
Denis Vassart, Steinbach’s Emergency Planning Coordinator, was pleased to hear about the award. “This is a community achievement,” said Vassart. “We rely on residents to take part in our programs, registering for Steinbach Alert Now, donating their time for emergency planning meetings and volunteering for StormReady. Their participation and willingness to help out makes us all safer.”
The bi-annual test of the Steinbach Alert Now system will take place on Wednesday, May 10, 2017, coinciding with National Emergency Preparedness Week (May 7-13).
