Emergency Preparedness

There is much to consider when developing a home emergency plan for your family, such as the following:

• Plan for specific crisis situations, e.g., a power outage, a flood or severe weather.
• Talk to your neighbours – plan ahead to share responsibilities.
• Know your home's exits and nearby safe meeting locations – not all family members may be at home when a crisis happens.
• Have detailed current contact lists for work and school as well as for any special health needs.
• If you must evacuate, know what basics to take such as identification, cash, cellphones and chargers, maps, pet food and more.

In case of an emergency, it's best to be prepared. Download an ebook version of the Government of Canada's Your Emergency Preparedness Guide.

Create a Home Emergency Kit

Some of the items that the Government of Canada suggests for an auto or home emergency kit include:

• Water – 2 litres per person per day, ideally in small bottles for easy transportation
• Food (e.g., non-spoilable granola bars, canned food and a manual can opener)
• A wind-up or regular flashlight and radio (and batteries)
• A first aid kit and fire extinguisher
• Extra keys
• A warm blanket, extra clothes and extra shoes
• Cash – including small bills and change for pay phones
• Road flares and a whistle (in case you need to alert people)
• Road maps
• A copy of your emergency plan, personal documents (License, Health Card, etc.) and daily prescriptions¹

Sources:

¹Your Emergency Preparedness Guide

Visit Public Safety Canada for more emergency preparedness information.