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19 · Thursday, May 6, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com How prepared is your family? Would you be able to protect your family in the case of an emergency? In recognition of this being Emergency Preparedness Week, Halton Region is encouraging residents to take a short quiz to test how prepared they are. The Emergency Preparedness Challenge is a five-question quiz prepared by the Ontario government to help residents increase their awareness and understanding of a few simple steps that could be potentially life-saving. "Preparing for an emergency is a responsibility we all share," said Halton Regional Chair Gary Carr. "You can't predict an emergency, but you can prepare for one." The quiz can be completed at www.ontario.ca/beprepared. Those who successfully complete the quiz will be eligible to win prizes. There are separate challenges for kids, teens and adults. The challenge closes May 31. Emergency Preparedness Week is a Canada-wide, federal/provincial initiative. During the week, residents are encouraged to identify and learn about risks in their communities and how they can protect themselves. Halton Regional Police Chief Gary Crowell said police are trained to come to the public's aid during any emergency. But the residents need to do their part, too, he said, by ensuring they have sufficient water, food, medicine and other supplies on hand to survive the first 72 hours of a large-scale crisis or natural disaster. "The best way to do this is to have a family emergency plan and three-day emergency kit prepared," he said. Representatives from Halton Region, Halton Regional Police and the municipalities meet regularly to plan for emergencies and ensure a co-ordinated response. For more information about Halton's Emergency Management Program or to download or order Halton's Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide, visit www.halton.ca/beprepared, or call 905-825-6000 or TTY 905-8279833.