Toronto, ON � April 28, 2011 � Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is partnering with Emergency Management Ontario (EMO) to present the Emergency Preparedness Challenge for the second year in a row. The provincial initiative, aimed at increasing Ontarians’ awareness and understanding of emergency preparedness, kicks off with the official launch of Emergency Preparedness Week on April 29 at Yonge-Dundas Square.
“Our industry has seen first-hand the devastating impact that disasters can have on individuals, families and communities,” said Ralph Palumbo, Vice-President, Ontario, IBC. “Insurers will be there to help rebuild and put lives back together when disasters strike, but a little preparation can go a long way to minimize the impact of an emergency.”
The Emergency Preparedness Challenge runs from April 29 to May 31 at www.ontario.ca/beprepared and consists of five short age-appropriate questions about emergency preparedness. By taking the Challenge, Ontarians will become better aware of simple things they can do to protect themselves, their families and their homes from disaster.
“With many recent examples of disasters around the world � earthquakes, tornadoes, flooding and more � the time to get prepared is now,” added Palumbo.
The Emergency Preparedness Week launch on April 29 at Yonge-Dundas Square will kick off at 11 a.m. and will run until mid-afternoon. The main show will begin shortly after noon with a Disaster Cook-off hosted by celebrity chef Rob Rainford from the Food Network, where contestants will prepare a meal using only the ingredients found in an emergency survival kit. A variety of interactive exhibits will also be on display, including IBC’s new Dry House exhibit and the Survivor 72 game.
About Emergency Preparedness Week
Emergency Preparedness Week is a Canada-wide initiative to increase awareness about individual and family preparedness. One of the goals of Emergency Preparedness Week is to teach the public how to reduce the risks and consequences of an emergency by being better prepared. Throughout the Week, Ontario residents are encouraged to identify and learn about risks in their communities and how they can protect themselves.
About Insurance Bureau of Canada
Insurance Bureau of Canada is the national industry association representing Canada’s private home, car and business insurers. Its member companies represent 90% of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada. The P&C insurance industry employs over 114,000 Canadians, pays more than $7 billion in taxes to the federal, provincial and municipal governments, and has a total premium base of $40 billion.
To view media releases and information, visit the media section of IBC’s website at www.ibc.ca.
