When a natural disaster occurs, it can take first responders as long as 72 hours to reach people in non-critical situations.
10 Things to Include in an Emergency Kit
Public Safety Canada recommends that you keep a basic home emergency kit containing the following items to help you survive a disaster:
- Water
- 2 - 4 litres of water per person, per day (small bottles are easier to carry in case of an evacuation order).
- Food
- Canned food, energy bars and other non-perishables
- Manual can opener.
-
Flashlight and batteries.
-
Battery-powered or wind-up radio and extra batteries.
-
First aid kit.
-
Special needs items:
- Prescription medications, infant formula and equipment for people with disabilities.
- Extra keys for your car and house.
-
Cash
- Include smaller bills and change for pay phones (travellers’ cheques are handy also)
- Emergency plan
- Include a hard copy of your emergency plan and ensure it lists in-town and out-of-town contacts
Remember to check the expiry date of applicable items such as medications and infant formula on an annual basis and replace items as necessary.
Additional Sources of Information:
Visit Public Safety Canada for more emergency preparedness information