Springwater News • May 17, 2018 • Edition 521 • Phone: 705 322 2249 Cell: 705 321 2653
Tips for when disaster strikes to mark Emergency Preparedness Week
Above is a collage of images (from left to right): After effects of fire include water/ice damage and chaos, a warehouse of inventory submerged in flood, a building collapses during Slave Lake fire, a canopy of smoke blankets the sky in the south end of Kamloops Photo Credits: FirstOnSite Restoration
With steadily rising water levels, community encroaching wildfires, and the impending 'Big One,’ now more than ever, businesses and homeowners need to think about disaster preparedness and how increasing catastrophic events will affect them. Emergency Preparedness Week, which runs from May 6-12, is an annual event organized by Public Safety Canada in collaboration with the provinces, territories and other partners. After last year’s magnitude of catastrophic events, it’s the perfect time for Canadians to reflect on the past and be prepared for any eventuality that lays ahead. While disasters strike any time of year, Emergency Preparedness Week is the time to consider these issues and put contingency plans in place. Here are several proactive measures that can be set in place to prepare your home or business. FirstOnSite Restoration's preparedness tips for all kinds of disaster: • Keep all important hard copy documents such as passports, birth certificates, deeds and wills in a safety deposit box. Failing that, make sure you have originals or copies somewhere off site. • Take digital photos or videos of your home or business and contents. This will help with the claims process in the event of a disaster. Also, itemize new goods or assets located within the building each year when you renew your insurance policy. • Prepare an emergency contact list of people to call and keep it offsite. This list should include trusted friends and family, business partners, insurers and anyone else you might need to contact in an emergency. • Routinely inspect your home for areas that could cause problems in a disaster. Pay particular attention to the roof, windows and sump pump. • Have your insurer on speed dial in the event of an emergency.
FirstOnSite Restoration offers free consumer tips for each season. Right now you can visit ways to protect your property from flood damage, winter storms and smoke from wildfires. FirstOnSite has responded to every catastrophic event across the country over recent years – the 2013 Alberta and GTA floods, the Goderich Tornado, and the Fort McMurray and BC Wildfires, winter ice storms, flooding in Montreal and Windsor and Atlantic hurricanes. Source: FirstOnSite Restoration, https://www.firstonsite.ca/
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Simcoe Centre-West District Women’s Institute
Wyebridge Branch of the WI hosted the 114th annual Meeting for the 8 branches of the Simcoe Centre-West District Women’s Institute, in an interesting location at Wyebridge. The meeting was held in the historic building that was the home and studio in the 1940’s, of artist Franz Johnston, from the famous “Group of Seven” painters. 35 members and guests gathered with coffee and muffins to start their business meetings by 9 a.m. Announcements, minutes, installation of the new executive, treasurer’s & convenor’s reports were efficiently dealt with, so that by noon, most of the business was completed, leaving a relaxing time to enjoy a delicious meal, catered by “Mad Cravings” and entertainment. A very talented young man, David Hunter played his guitar and sang. A distinguished member of the art community, Joanna McEwen, is a resident of Oro-Medonte, and inspired the Old Penetanguishene Road signs. Joanna spoke about “Home and Country”; at is the difference between a house and a home, and some of the improvements our pioneer ancestors appreciated as they progressed from log shanty, to house, to home, peppered with some amusing comments about struggles with smoke and down drafts from fireplaces, “pretties”, and ridding cabins of house flies and pests. Final announcements included information on Lyme disease prevention workshops and fundraising for various WI projects and protest letters for Honduran political prisoner Edwin Espinal. The meeting concluded by 2 p.m., leaving attendees time to enjoy some beautiful spring weather.
Simcoe Centre-West District Women’s Institute Executive Back Row L to R Treasurer Mary Stone; Past President Sandra Houston; membership Convenor Eileen Martin; Rose Convenor Doreen Smith; Vice President Barbara Harvey Front Row Public Relations Convenor Elaine Steele; President Dianne Richie; Secretary Betty Cook
Do something every day that you don't want to do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain. --Mark Twain
Victoria Day Waste Collection
There will be NO CHANGE to your garbage, organics, and recycling collection day. Have materials at the curb by 7 a.m. on your regular day to ensure collection. WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITIES HOURS All County waste management facilities will be CLOSED Monday, May 21 except Site 8 (Matchedash). Does not apply to residents of Barrie and Orillia.
County of Simcoe Customer Service 1-800-263-3199
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