Disaster Preparedness

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Manitoba Health, through its programs and its Office of Disaster Management, aims to develop safer communities. To achieve this the health system must be capable of providing a coordinated response during disasters, and deliver effective programs to reduce risks and increase preparedness before an impact.

The health sector has a special interest and a key role in this process. We recognize that safer communities are healthier and the health of the population is an important contributing factor to an individual's and a community's ability to cope with disasters. The regional health authorities and Manitoba Health's internal branches work together on many disaster-related issues to ensure the health sector is properly prepared. You can help too by preparing yourself -- see the links on this page for more information.


	Find highway conditions in your area from the Government of Manitoba's Road and Traveller information website.
	Watch for weather warnings from Environment Canada.
	Transport Canada Winter Driving Tips site offers useful information such as informative videos, backgrounders, questions and answers, and information and tips for snowmobiling.

Home & Family Preparedness

	The summer of 2002 saw the first cases of West Nile virus in Manitoba. Find out how you and your family can prepare and protect yourselves for next year.
	Learn more about emergency preparedness in Manitoba from the Emergency Measures Organization.
	Disasters can strike anywhere around the world and some countries struggle with diseases that are uncommon in Canada. Before traveling, make sure you have the information you need to be safe when you are out of the country, by checking the Travel Health Advisories from Health Canada.
	Find out more about some of Manitoba's hazards, like forest fires.
	National emergency management organizations, such as Public Safety Canada or the American Federal Emergency Management Agency have useful information on hazards and preparedness.

	Disasters often involve casualties and the need for emergency care. Manitoba Health’s Emergency Services branch has information about Emergency Medical Services.
	Public Health has an important role to play in many disasters. The Environmental Health Branch provides information on major health issues that affect the health of Manitobans in an appropriate and timely manner.
	Health Canada’s Emergencies and Disasters site provides more information about Health Canada's activities related to emergencies and disasters that can affect the health of Canadians.
	The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are an important international resource on public health with many useful links relating to disasters.
	The World Health Organization’s Department of Emergency and Humanitarian Action deals with health disasters all over the globe, especially in developing countries.

For more information, please contact:

Manitoba Health
Office of Disaster Management
Unit 7 - 1680 Ellice Ave.
Winnipeg, Manitoba R3H 0Z2
CANADA
Phone: (204) 945-1444
FAX: (204) 948-2531
E-mail: dms@gov.mb.ca