Students at Eastview Secondary School heard from the experts Wednesday during an Emergency Preparedness Survivor event
A variety of speakers took the teens behind the scenes of certain disasters, including the Angus tornado and Fort McMurray fire, in a bid to underscore the importance of being prepared.
Representatives from the Red Cross, County of Simcoe Emergency Management, County of Simcoe Paramedic Services and Barrie Fire and Emergency Service explained how emergency services respond to large-scale emergencies as well as the importance of personal emergency preparedness at home.
The event was part of Emergency Preparedness Week with a focus on knowing the risks in Simcoe County, making emergency plans and assembling a 72-hour emergency preparedness kit.
Anita Horlings volunteers with the Canadian Red Cross and a local disaster management team.
She responded to the Fort McMurray fire and shared an important lesson with students.
"You can never be too prepared. Just make sure that you're ready to go," she said.
"When somebody comes to bang on your door and tells you you need to be evacuated, don't tell them you have to go back up to your room and take a half hour to pack like you're going away on vacation. You need the essentials only."
