The Okotoks Fire Department wants to make sure residents are prepared for the next 72 hours incase an emergency were to strike.

This is part of Emergency Preparedness Week where the theme is plan, prepare, and be aware.

Dwight Seymour, deputy fire chief, says residents should keep in mind where their kids are and how they'll communicate if an emergency were to strike.

"Who would be picking up those kids if need be in the event of an emergency and have some kind of a plan. If family members do get separated during an emergency they should have a plan on where to meet," he says. "Be prepared cell phones may not work, is there backup communications, is there a common email account that maybe everyone in the family would use to say 'this is where I'm at and everything's good' ."

When assembling the kits, Seymour says there's a few items residents should include.

"Obviously water, some food items, a battery powered radio, then you're going to possibly be looking at any papers or insurance information etcetera that you may need in the event you can't get back into your house as well as candles, some form of heat or light, battery powered flashlights, all that kind of stuff."

Seymour adds people can either assemble their own 72 hours kits or purchase one through the Red Cross.

Emergency Preparedness Week kicked off May 7 and runs until May 13.

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