On May 7, Fire Chiefs from throughout Northumberland faced off in a ‘Disaster Dining Challenge’ in recognition of Emergency Preparedness Week, celebrated from May 3 to May 9th.
Fire Chiefs from the Township of Alnwick-Haldimand, the Town of Cobourg, the Township of Hamilton, and the Municipality of Trent Hills went head-to-head in a friendly competition to create a three-course meal, using only non-perishable food typically found in a household emergency preparedness kit. Each participant was provided with an assortment of supplies to prepare their meal, which included an appetizer, an entrée, and a dessert.
All dishes were judged by four emergency preparedness experts and scored by presentation, taste, and creativity. The judging panel included:
· Brenda McCarroll – Canadian Red Cross
· Donna Robinson – Emergency Management Ontario
· Heather Monsma – Town of Cobourg
· Carrie Jeffrey – Ontario Community Emergency Assistance Program
“Emergency food doesn’t have to mean bland food,” notes County Emergency Management Coordinator Mikayla Paul. “With a little creativity, non-perishable items can be turned into comforting, nutritious, and even delicious meals when you need them most.”
Township of Hamilton Fire Chief Mike Robinson won the challenge with his delicious Shepherd’s Pie recipe.
“An emergency can happen at any time, and access to food may not be immediate,” he stated. “Keeping a 72-hour emergency kit stocked with non-perishable food helps ensure you and your family can stay safe, nourished, and prepared until help or services are restored.”
Every household should have a kit readily available with enough supplies to be self-sufficient for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency, including non-perishable food items.
To learn more about how to assemble your emergency preparedness kit visit Northumberland.ca/BePrepared.
Author: Pete Fisher
Has been a photojournalist for over 30-years and have been honoured to win numerous awards for photography and writing over the years. Best selling author for the book Highway of Heroes - True Patriot Love
