Emergency Preparedness

Emergencies can happen at any time and without warning. Be ready. With a little preparation, you can respond quickly to help yourself and others. Understand the risks in your area, create a household emergency plan and build an emergency kit.

Make an emergency plan

A household emergency plan helps you to act quickly, stay connected, and reduce stress when it matters most.

Making an emergency kit

An organized emergency kit ensures you have what you need and you can find it fast. Keep it portable, accessible, and make sure everyone knows where it is.

An emergency preparedness kit can help keep your family or housemates safe. Making one is quick and easy, and you probably have most of the items you need already.

Your emergency preparedness kit should include enough supplies to keep you and your family or housemates self-sufficient for at least three days (or 72 hours). Ideally, the following supplies should be stored in a waterproof, wheeled suitcase or container:

Bottled water: Store four litres of water per person per day.

Food: ​A minimum of three days’ food that won’t spoil and requires minimal preparation, such as canned or dried food and energy bars.

Medication: ​Include any prescription medication that you or your family members take.

Wind-up flashlight and radio: Wind-up flashlight/radio combination models are available from many outdoor retailers. If you are using a battery-operated flashlight or radio, be sure to stock extra batteries and replace them every year.

Personal sanitation items: Consider including moist towelettes, garbage bags and toilet paper.

Supplies for your baby and pet: ​If applicable, stock your kit with baby food, diapers, formula, extra clothes, and baby wipes. If you have a pet, have an evacuation plan for your pet, water, food and toys.

First aid kit: ​First Aid kits should be easily accessible in your home and vehicle and should generally include gloves, gauze pads, a variety of bandages, antiseptic, scissors, tweezers, needle and thread, instant ice packs, and a survival blanket, if space allows.

Warm clothes and blankets or sleeping bags: ​Blankets or sleeping bags are much warmer than survival blankets. You may want to pack both, but survival blankets do not replace real blankets.

Emergency planning resources

Household emergency plans, emergency preparedness for children, pets and service animals, staying connected in emergencies.