Community preparedness is the focus this Emergency Preparedness Week

As each season brings unique challenges, the City of Waterloo, alongside regional partners are using Emergency Preparedness Week (May 3 to 9) to remind people to stay informed and be ready.

Whether it’s spring flooding and winds, summer heat, autumn power outages or winter storms, being ready for each season means knowing how to protect yourself, the people you care about and the community you live in.

“Emergency preparedness isn’t about predicting every situation, it’s about building the confidence and capacity to respond when the unexpected happens,” says Diane Schofield, Manager, Emergency Management for the Region of Waterloo. “A few simple preparedness steps taken today can make a significant difference in keeping you and your loved ones safe all year long. Everyone is encouraged to visit www.alertwr.ca for information to start or to continue building their preparedness tool kit.”

Upcoming Events

Events will be held next week to help the community better understand seasonal risks and plan for them:

• May 2: Emergency Preparedness Week booth at the Cambridge Firehall Museum and Kids Safety Day at Conestoga Mall (outside Old Navy) from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
• May 4, 5, 6,7 and 8: Canadian Red Cross Disaster Preparedness and Resilience Virtual Learning Series Prepared Together 2026 - Canadian Red Cross
• May 5: City of Kitchener Emergency Preparedness display at Kitchener City Hall from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• May 7: City of Waterloo Emergency Preparedness booth at RIM Park from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• May 9: Region of Waterloo Police Open House from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• May 9: The Township of Woolwich is hosting a community-wide event from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Stay Informed

Emergencies can happen anytime. Be the first to know when they do with real-time updates. Subscribe to Alert Waterloo Region to receive customized emergency notifications for floods, severe storms, hazardous spills, and other urgent situations. Subscribe at: www.alertwr.ca

If you have questions about subscribing or about being prepared for an emergency, email emergencymanagement@regionofwaterloo.ca.