Calgary COVID-19 Quarantine Information & Upcoming DSN Events


Details
March 21, 2020 - While I have set the "date" on this "event" as May 1, it is NOT a real, physical event. No RSVPs. I will bump it back if the quarantine situation continues past it, and will update the event details if the situation changes enough to warrant new or updated information.
It's been almost a year since DSN's last event or communication; sorry about that, but things have been too hectic in life lately; never more hectic than right now, with the COVID-19 threat looming over the globe.
So while I had every intention of getting out & Doing Some New things this spring, it might be closer to summer before DSN opens its doors again.
The City of Calgary usually has some Emergency Preparedness events through the spring; I'm hoping there will be a lot more interest now, and for the upcoming years, by people who were caught off-guard by the recommended self-quarantines we are currently facing.
So, some of the first events I'll be hoping to provide to DSN will be safety- or skill-focused, rather than just 'fun' - although 'fun' has been the core principle in this group for years, it is quite clear that people need more education about emergency situations (toilet paper hoarders, I'm looking at you!).
For the short term, stay safe, keep your distance from others if you have to go out, avoid touching your face and WASH YOUR HANDS!
Don't panic, this is (probably) not the Zombie Apocalypse.
Keep an eye on your neighbours, especially if you know of any seniors, or anyone who is chronically ill or disabled; it may be difficult (or just scary) for them to do their normal shopping (some home-delivery services are cutting back or just stopping); while social distancing is recommended, that doesn't mean cut all ties!! Many people will NEED human contact, now more than ever; knock on your neighbour's door (then step well back!) to make sure they're OK, and that they know you care! Call your parents, your kids, your cousins... keep in touch!
Don't hog resources, while everyone is staying home - internet bandwidth, hot water, electricity, sewage (see the City's notes on flushing!) - there will be much more usage now than normally, so 'share the stuff'!
What to do while home? Well, once you've counted the tiles on the bathroom floor, checked all the batteries around the house, and cleaned things to within an inch of their lives; do a detailed home inventory (you might discover you're over- or under-insured); spring cleaning is always a positive move; go through all your paperwork (do you need that receipt for the printer you bought in 1992, and disposed of in 1997?), especially the legal documents - create a spreadsheet or word document with all your important or legal #s, references, contacts & phone #s, expiry dates, etc.
For the kids: why not make family quarantine a family history project? Family trees can be fun to explore, there are lots of free sources out there (FamilySearch.org being one I know); teach them a craft or a skill - much of that could be done on a phone or ipad, but now's a chance to be one-on-one, face-to-face (but not too close!), good family bonding time - don't waste it! Above all, teach them not to be scared of what they may be hearing. This is going to get (a lot) worse, folks, before it gets better, so be sure to prepare them!!!
Below are some links to information from the City of Calgary, other government sources, and other useful things.
City of Calgary COVID-19 Information:
https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/cema/Pages/Response-to-Coronavirus.aspx
Calgary Emergency Management Agency (CEMA): https://www.calgary.ca/CSPS/cema/Pages/home.aspx
City of Calgary Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/cityofcalgary/
Calgary Police Service Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/CalgaryPolice
Govt of Canada COVID-19 page:
https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/being-prepared.html
CDC COVID-19 page:
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2Findex.html
A good video that displays (for kids and adults) how quickly, and easily, germs can spread - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I5-dI74zxPg

Calgary COVID-19 Quarantine Information & Upcoming DSN Events