Emergency measures

In context

The Ville de Saint-Lambert has developed an Emergency Preparedness Plan to help ensure your safety. The measures in this plan are put into action in emergency situations that constitute a significant danger to your life or property.

The ice storm of 1998 is a good example of the type of situation requiring the deployment of emergency measures. Here are others:

  • Natural disasters (floods, tornados, ice storms, hurricanes, etc.)
  • Epidemics and pandemics
  • Transportation accidents (plane crashes, train derailments, etc.)
  • Toxic spills
  • Building or structural failures and collapses
  • Major fires, explosions or risk of explosions
  • Essential service failures (power and water)

We cannot foresee an emergency, but must prepare for the possibility. This is why the Ville de Saint-Lambert has developed and emergency preparedness plan designed to assist residents in the event of a disaster or emergency. It provides for various measures including emergency response and evacuation plans, mobilization of personnel, the opening of public shelters, the provision of food and water, and the implementation of any other measure required to ensure the safety of persons and their property.

In the event of a declared emergency, the City will assign its municipal employees to emergency tasks and call upon relief organizations and other responders as needed.

Be prepared for an emergency

Did you know that it’s your responsibility to show foresight and make sure you can meet your own needs for a period of at least 72 hours? To help you do so, here is a simple, practical memory aid.

In an emergency, you should be able to take care of your family for the first 72 hours, while rescue teams organize themselves and attend to the most vulnerable.

In a crisis situation, an emergency kit will allow you to meet the essential needs of your family while waiting for relief or the restoration of essential services. If you have to evacuate your house, you can quickly take it away.

Having an essentials kit and emergency plan on hand helps you deal with emergencies and keep you and your family safe.

Yet, according to the Department of Public Safety, nearly 85% of Canadians recognize the importance of having an emergency kit at home. However, only 40% of them have one. We are counting on you to correct this statistic!

In the event that you have to ensure your safety and that of your family in your home, you should keep an emergency kit containing the essentials listed below readily accessible at all times.

  • A bin to hold the articles for the kit
  • Drinking water (2 L/person/day, for 72 h)
  • Enough non-perishable food to last for at least 72 h
  • A manual can opener
  • Candles and matches
  • Hand-cranked or battery-powered radio (+ replacement batteries)
  • Wind-up or battery-powered flashlight (+ replacement batteries)
  • First aid kit (antiseptics, painkillers, adhesive bandages, sterile gauze compresses, scissors, etc.)
Trousse d'urgence

In the event that you have to evacuate your home and go to an emergency shelter, you should have the following essentials ready to go in your backpack:

  • Backpack to carry your essentials
  • Hygiene articles (toothbrush, towels, soap, garbage bag, etc.)
  • Medications
  • A change of clothing
  • Blankets
  • Cash, including smaller bills and change
  • Keys (car and house)
  • Personal papers and pieces of ID

If needed:

  • Special baby items (infant formula, disposable diapers, bibs, etc.)
  • Special pets items (food, medication, leash, etc.)

General tips:

  • Put these articles in a backpack or bin in advance.
  • If you are a person with reduced mobility, remember your cane, walker or wheel chair.
  • Emergency kit for your car: Visit the website of the Ministère de la Sécurité publique du Québec to find out what articles this kit should contain.
  • Preassembled kit: You can obtain a kit from the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, the Salvation Army or certain stores.
Sac à dos d'urgence

If you have an emergency plan, you will be ready to face an unforeseeable situation. You will also save yourself time and stress.

Keep the following information in one location that is always within easy reach:

Emergency contact numbers:

  • Emergency: 9-1-1
  • Info-Santé: 8-1-1
  • Centre antipoison du Québec: 1 800 463-5060
  • Hydro-Québec: 1 800 790-2424
  • Gaz Métropolitain: 1 800 361-8003
  • SOPFEU (forest fire): 1 800 463-3389

Important phone numbers:

  • Your children’s school
  • Daycare
  • Doctor
  • Pharmacist
  • Insurer (home)
  • Insurer (car)
  • Contact person near your home
  • Contact person outside your immediate neighbourhood
  • Other people to be contacted

Home evacuation scenario:

  • Identify the emergency exits for each room.
  • Know how to turn off the water, electricity and gas, as the case may be.
  • In the event of an emergency, avoid taking the elevator.

Meeting places:

  • Identify two meeting places: one near your home and one outside your immediate neighbourhood

Route to take to leave your home:

  • Plan a route to get from your home to a safe destination. Plan an alternate route too in case some roads are impassable.
  • Make sure everyone in your home knows the emergency plan.

For more information on how to prepare an emergency plan, visit the Government of Canada’s Get Prepared website.

What are the possible hazards and emergencies that can occur?

People in any region face a number of natural hazards (natural catastrophes) or probable emergency situations. Examples of probable emergency situations include ice storms, extremely heavy snowfalls, long interruptions in water service (bursting of a major water main), power outages, environmental accidents or hazardous product spills.

Learn more about these hazards and how to deal with them on the Government of Canada’s Get Prepared website.

During a heat wave, your health can deteriorate rapidly. You can take certain precautions to make yourself more comfortable and reduce the health risks for you and your loved ones. The City of Saint-Lambert wish to remind you of a few of these preventive measures:

  1. Outdoors, take shelter under a parasol or wear a wide-brimmed, well-ventilated hat;
  2. Use sunscreen to limit your exposure to ultraviolet rays;
  3. Limit your physical activities, especially in the middle of the day, when it is hottest;
  4. Drink plenty of water;
  5. Close the blinds and curtains to keep your home cool;
  6. Open all windows in the evening, if it is cooler outside;
  7. Use air conditioning to lower the temperature in your home;
  8. If you work outside during this hot weather, drink at least one glass of water every 20 minutes even if you aren’t thirsty;
  9. Adjust your work pace to your heat tolerance and take breaks in the shade or in a cool place.

Seniors and those with chronic illnesses are encouraged to follow these preventive measures to reduce the risk of suffering from heat-related health problems. All residents are encouraged to check on members of their entourage who may be at risk.

Pets
In hot, humid weather, animals can fall victim to heat stroke. We invite you to recognize the signs and take the appropriate steps. Visit the MAPAQ’s website for full details.

Symptoms that require monitoring changes in health

It is important to monitor any deterioration in the health of an adult who has the following symptoms:

  • Dehydration
  • Unusual fatigue or exhaustion
  • Inconsistent words
  • Cramps
  • Loss of balance
  • Fainting

If you have questions about your health, call Info‑Santé 811 or consult a health professional, a pharmacist for instance.

Depending on the gravity of the situation, we may ask you to evacuate your home for your safety. Before leaving:

  • Pack essential items for all members of your family.
  • Place your pets in a safe location.
  • Lock the doors of your home.
  • Close the gas valve solely if instructed to do so. Only the gas company can restore service, which could take a certain amount of time.
  • Avoid travelling on flooded roads either on foot or in a vehicle. If you must use a vehicle, drive carefully and do not hesitate to abandon it if the engine stops suddenly.
  • Use the route indicated by us.
  • Inform your family and the municipality where you intend to take shelter.

For prevention tips to prevent house fire and to learn what to do in case of house fire, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

To know how to prevent forest fires and safety during a forest fire and to learn about precautions you should take, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

For information about preventing power outages and actions to take in case of power outages and to learn about dangers in case of prolonged power outages, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

For information about safety precautions before, during and after an earthquake and earthquake and to learn about earthquake dangers and actions to do during an earthquake, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

For information about safety precautions and rules of conduct in case of a windstorm or tornado and to learn what to do before, during and after a windstorm or tornado, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

For information about prevention advice and safety rules in the event of a major industrial accident and to learn about the precautions to take, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

For information about safety instructions and rules of conduct in the event of a snow storm and to find out about the steps to take before, during and after a winter storm, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

For information about prevention tips and safety rules in case of drinking water contamination and to learn about the precautions to take, visit the Gouvernement du Québec's website.

These measures help residents protect both themselves and others:

  • Maintain physical distancing
  • Wash your hands
  • Wear a face covering
  • Avoid large gatherings
  • Take care of yourself
  • Learn the basic care to provide to your friends and family
  • Learn when and who to consult when you require care and services
  • Benefit from the vaccine as soon as it is offered to you, to protect yourself and those around you, and not to help spread the disease among the population

You should also be aware that other hazards can trigger emergencies that may affect them. These emergencies could be bomb threats, chemical spills or infectious disease outbreaks.

In this site of the Government of Canada, you will find practical information on what to do in case any of these specific emergencies should occur.

Be informed

Always vigilant about its residents’ safety and security, the City of Saint-Lambert has put in place several measures to inform you in case of an emergency.

Always vigilant about its residents’ safety and security, the City of Saint-Lambert has put in place an automated messaging system. In the event of an alert or other emergency situation, the City can record a personalized message and send it out quickly to large numbers of people by telephone or text message.

This system is used only in exceptional circumstances involving, for example, evacuation notices, boil water advisories, unexpected street closures, water service interruptions, etc. In addition, in the event of a localized situation, the system can be used to reach only those residents who are directly concerned.

Register now for your own safety and security

To subscribe to the system, simply log on to the B-CITI citizen portal and create an account. Then go to the "Notifications" tab under the "My Profile" menu.

The information you provide will remain confidential and not be used for any other purpose.

It is your responsibility to manage your file and make sure that your contact information is up-to-date at all times.

B-CITI citizen portal

Logo de la station de radio FM 103,3

Since 1998, the radio station 103.3 FM has been the Ville de Saint-Lambert’s official broadcaster in emergencies. Therefore, be sure to tune in to this station to stay informed about the measures taken by your city in an emergency situation. Keep your ears open!

The Ville de Saint-Lambert recently refurbished its warning siren, located on the roof of City Hall. The siren will be used to warn the population should an emergency situation arise. For example, the City might use it in the event of a natural disaster, a toxic spill, a serious transportation accident, etc. The siren will be reserved for this purpose and will not be used under any other circumstances.

What to do if you hear the siren
If you hear the siren, you should quickly consult the municipality's website or Facebook page to know precisely what is the situation and what you should do.

In addition to this service, the City uses all its other normal communication tools to reach the largest number of residents as quickly as possible.

The City’s website and alert banner, its Facebook account, signage on Saint-Lambert territory, and the media offer other efficient sources of information you should consult in the event of an alert or other emergency situation.

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