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Emergency Preparedness Week

Be Prepared. Know Your Risks.

Join us for Emergency Preparedness Week (EP Week), a longstanding national event spanning over 25 years in Canada, held annually during the first full week of May.

Throughout EP Week, we will have daily tips to help you equip yourself with the knowledge to Be Prepared and Know Your Risks.



Dear Residents of Jasper, 

As we kick-off Emergency Preparedness Week, we continue to reflect on everything our community has experienced, and everything we have accomplished, together. 

2024’s wildfire changed our lives in many ways. It tested us, challenged us, and brought uncertainty. But it also showed the strength of this community. From the safe evacuation of more than 25,000 people to the way neighbours, friends, and colleagues supported one another, Jasper demonstrated what it truly means to be in it together.  

This year’s Emergency Preparedness Week theme, “In It Together,” reflects something we know to be true here in Jasper: when emergencies happen, it’s often the people around us, our neighbours, coworkers, and community, who are there first and who stay long after. 

We also recognize that preparedness isn’t always easy to think about. For many, 2024 is still very present. Recovery is ongoing, and preparedness conversations can bring up difficult emotions. But staying prepared is one of the most important ways we can take care of ourselves, and each other. 

Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. While emergency services play a critical role, strong, connected communities are what make the biggest difference before, during, and after an emergency. 

From May 3 to 9, we encourage everyone to take a few simple steps: 

  • Check in with your neighbours and identify who may need extra support.  
  • Make or update your 72-hour emergency kit. 
  • Review your household emergency plan.  
  • Stay informed by signing up for the Alberta Emergency Alert system.
These small actions help build a stronger, more resilient community. 

Our experience has shown that being prepared doesn’t just help in the moment, it helps us recover faster and more effectively. 

We invite you to take part in Emergency Preparedness Week activities and continue building the connections that help keep Jasper safe. 

Because in Jasper, we are truly in it together. 

Christine Nadon
Director of Protective & Legislative Services

Mathew Conte
Fire Chief and Director of Emergency Management



 

Emergency Preparedness Week is May 3 to 9, 2026, and this year’s theme is “In It Together.” 

Emergencies don’t just affect individuals; they affect entire communities. In Jasper, we’ve seen firsthand how important it is to be prepared, not only for ourselves, but for the people around us.   

Taking steps now helps protect you, your family, and your neighbours, and allows emergency responders to focus where they’re needed most.   

While wildfire remains Jasper’s highest risk, other emergencies, like dangerous goods incidents or severe weather, can also impact our community.   

Preparedness starts with simple actions: 

❗ Know your risks – understanding local hazards helps you prepare for what could happen 

❗ Stay informed – download the Alberta Emergency Alert app to receive critical, real-time information: https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx 

❗ Build a 72-hour kit – have essential supplies and important documents ready so you can leave quickly if needed 

❗ Make a plan – think about your household’s needs and how you’ll respond in an emergency. Download the Evacuation Guide at https://jasper-alberta.ca/p/emergency-information or pick one up at the Jasper Activity Centre 

Prepared communities are stronger, more resilient, and recover faster. 

This Emergency Preparedness Week, take a few steps, and check in with those around you. Because when it matters most, we are in it together. 

Assembly point locations will be communicated during an emergency.

📢 Sign-Up for Emergency Alerts 📢

Download the Alberta Emergency Alert App


𝐇𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧 𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐤𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐚𝐭 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐝𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐤𝐞𝐞𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐬𝐚𝐟𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬.

 Building a kit doesn’t have to be hard and doesn’t have to be done all at once.

✔ When you are grocery shopping, add some non-perishable food items to your cart.

✔ When tidying up at home, store any extra items with your emergency supplies.

✔ Make sure your emergency kit is easy to access and kept in a place that everyone in your household knows about.

If you only had 15 minutes notice to evacuate, what would you pack that you could not live without? Making a list of items to grab at the last minute can be helpful. 

Watch the 60 second ‘What Goes In Your Emergency Kit’ video to get some ideas! 

❗The Alberta Emergency Alert system will be conducting a province-wide test on Wednesday, May 6 at 1:55 PM❗

 
This alert will be broadcast to TV, radio, and compatible cell phones. 

We understand this test may be unsettling, especially following last summer’s wildfire.  

Please know that this is only a test — no action is required. 

These tests help ensure emergency alerts work as intended, so we can all stay informed and safe in the event of a real emergency. 

Even when it’s hard, staying connected to trusted information is one of the best ways we can protect ourselves and each other. 

https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-emergency-alert.aspx

🚒𝐄𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐞 🚒

 Join us at the Jasper Fire Hall TODAY (Wednesday, May 6) between 3:00 PM and 7:00 PM for a drop-in event the whole family can enjoy!

✔Chat with local emergency staff

✔Pick up your evacuation guide

✔Learn how we’re working together to stay safe and prepared

✔Fire truck tours, BBQ’d hot dogs, and more fun for the kids!

 

Being wildfire ready can ease the stress of wildfire season. 

Our customized Jasper evacuation guide has important information on: 

📢 Evacuation zones and alerts
📢 How to evacuate
📢 How to make an emergency plan
📢 How to build an emergency kit to be prepared

Click here to download the evacuation guide or pick one up at the Jasper Activity Centre or Library.
*Assembly point locations will be communicated during an emergency* 

 

Fire Pit Safety Tips 

Gathering around a fire pit is a great way to enjoy our beautiful Jasper evenings—but in a wildfire-prone area, even small backyard fires require big responsibility. 

As part of Emergency Preparedness Week, here are a few important reminders to help you stay safe and reduce the risk of fire in and around your home:

  • Always check if a Fire Ban is in effect before starting a fire. Visit the Alberta Fire Bans website.
  • Before setting up or using a fire pit, check with your landlord or review your condo bylaws to ensure fire pits are permitted on the property.
  • Don't have a fire if it's windy. 
  • Portable fire pits may be used on a deck, but they must sit on non-combustible material such as brick or stone and not directly on your wooden deck.
  • Fire pits should be at least three metres away from any building or combustible material such as your fence.
  • Fire pits should NOT be under any trees, branches, plants, or other materials that can catch fire.
  • All fires in your fire pit must be kept to a reasonable size; .75 metres high and wide.
  • A mesh screen or ‘spark guard’ should be used to reduce the spread of embers and sparks from wood-burning fire pits.
  • All fires must be fully supervised at all times by at least one person 14 years of age or older. 
  • Always have a nearby way to put out the fire. Easy options are your watering hose or a bucket of water. 

 




❗Evacuation Alerts & Evacuation Orders: 

What’s the difference, and how we will alert you. 

📢 An Evacuation Alert tells people to prepare for an evacuation. While you may not be in immediate danger, evacuating early may be the right choice depending on your circumstance. An Evacuation Alert indicates a serious situation is taking place and everyone should prepare to leave town if an Evacuation Order is issued. 

📢 An Evacuation Order tells people to evacuate within a specific timeframe. This may happen when there is little or no time to notify or following an Evacuation Alert. 

⚡❗ Both types of Alerts will be communicated on the Alberta Emergency Alert. 

In addition to electronic alerts, the event of an Evacuation Order, the town siren will sound continuously, and Incident Management staff will be deployed to go door knocking (time permitting) and patrol the streets to alert residents that it is time to go.  

Click here to download the Alberta Emergency Alert App  




✍ Emergency Planning for Businesses 

In Jasper, there are many types of situations a business could face. 

Emergency situations - like a power outage, forest fire or chemical spill - can cause interruptions to a business' normal operations. These situations are hard on a business owner and the team of people who work there. 

What can businesses do to prepare?

Check out our Business Continuity Guidebook and Workbook to help prepare your business for any situation.