Your emergency preparedness guide

If an emergency happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to reach you. You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours.

Learn how quick and easy it is to become better prepared to face a range of emergencies – anytime, anywhere. Use this guide to create your own emergency plan. Use the checklists to build a 72-hour emergency kit. These basic steps will help you take care of yourself and your loved ones during an emergency.

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Your emergency preparedness guide

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Table of contents

Know the risks

Make a plan

Get an emergency kit

Resources

Know the risks

Although the consequences of various disasters can be similar, knowing the risks in your region can help you better prepare. Across Canada, we face a number of hazards, such as floods in many provinces, earthquakes in British Columbia, blizzards in Nunavut and tornadoes in Ontario. In addition to natural disasters, there are other types of risks, such as power outages and industrial or transportation accidents.

Some risks may be relevant to your community.You may want to identify the most likely ones for easy reference. You may also want to find out how disasters have impacted Canadians. Learn more about disasters, including those triggered by natural hazards, smart logical hazards or conflict by using the Canadian Disaster Database.

Make a plan

Every Canadian household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do in case of an emergency. It will take you about 20 minutes to make your plan.

Your family may not be together when an emergency occurs. Plan how to meet or how to contact one another, and discuss what you would do in different situations.

View this short video on how to make a family emergency plan.

You can see a list of what to include in your emergency plan here. You may need to get some information from your municipality and province/territory about their emergency plans. A list of provincial emergency management agencies is available here.

Keep your plan in an easy-to-find, easy-to-remember place (for example, with your emergency kit). If you completed your plan online, keep an electronic version on your computer.

Plan for specific risks

Public Safety Canada offers brochures on specific risks, such as earthquakes, power outages, floods and severe storms. Download copies from www.GetPrepared.ca.

Neighbourhood safety plan

Work with your neighbours to identify people who may need extra help during an emergency. To help make sure everyone is taken care of, assign “block buddies.”

Tip

Write yourself a reminder to update your emergency plan one year from now.

On this date next year, review your contact information, practise your emergency evacuation plans, change the batteries in your smoke alarm and carbon monoxide detector, and restock your kit(s). Change the batteries, food and water in your emergency kits once a year.

Household plan

Draw up a floor plan of your home that shows all possible exits from each room. Plan a main exit route from each room

Identify safe places where everyone should meet if you cannot go home or you need to evacuate.

Safe Idea

Make copies of important documents

Make copies of birth and marriage certificates, passports, licences, wills, land deeds and insurance. Take photos of family members in case a lost persons record is created. Keep them in a safe place, both inside and outside your home. You might want to put them in a safety deposit box or give them to friends and family who live out of town.

Workplace

Learn about the emergency evacuation plans in place and what you will need to do. You may want to have some basic supplies at work, such as water and food that won’t spoil, in case you need to stay put for a while.

Check with your employer about workplace emergency plans, including fire alarms, emergency exits, meeting points, and designated safety personnel or floor wardens.

Emergency preparedness for children

Teach them about natural hazards like earthquakes, hurricanes, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, ice storms, and blizzards - and what to do when they occur.

Make a family emergency plan, and prepare an emergency kit together.

Teach your kids what to do in case of a fire.

Make sure your kids know what to do at school if an emergency happens.

Helping kids cope

Children in particular can feel the stress deeply — and may react in different ways. The key to helping your children cope is simply by being there and making them feel safe.

Take their fears seriously and tell them that it’s okay to be scared.

Explain the events as best you can and acknowledge what’s frightening about what happened.

Tell your kids what you think and feel. Doing so helps them feel less alone if they know that their feelings are similar to yours.

Maintain familiar routines, like mealtimes and regular bedtime hours.

While parents can play a huge role in helping children deal with anxiety, it may be helpful to talk to a professional such as a psychologist or social worker, who can help children understand and cope with their emotions.

Did You Know?

Younger children may cry, whine or wet the bed in emergency situations. Older children may experience an intense fear of injury or separation anxiety. Other common reactions include a fear of the dark, physical pain and eating or sleeping problems.

Ask your children’s school or daycare about their emergency policies. Find out how they will contact families during an emergency.

Find out what type of authorization the school or daycare requires to release your children to a designated person if you can’t pick them up.

Make sure the school or daycare has updated contact information for parents, caregivers and designated persons.

Plan for pets and service animals

In case of an evacuation, remember that pets are not allowed in some public shelters or hotels. In case of an evacuation, prepare to take your pets with you to the home of a relative or friend, or take steps to identify pet-friendly hotels or pet boarding facilities in your area and further away from home.

Preparing for emergencies

The following steps will help keep pets safe.

Identify your pet. If you become separated from your pet during an emergency, their identification may be the only way to find them. Make sure each animal wears a collar and identification tag at all times.

Plan for evacuations. The best way to protect your pet in an emergency is to bring it with you. Most evacuation shelters will only accept service animals. Make a list of where your pet can be taken in case you need to evacuate. This list can include:

Hotels that accept animals even during emergencies

Boarding centres and animal shelters

Animal clinics

Family members and friends

Include your pet in your family emergency plan exercises.

Pet emergency kit

A sturdy crate or carrier

A strong leash or harness

ID tag and collar

Food and water for at least 72 hours (4L/day per average dog, 1L/day per average cat)

Bowls and can opener for food

Newspaper, paper towels, plastic bags, litter, and/or litter box

Special medications, dosage, and veterinarian’s contact information

Pet file (including recent photos of the animal, your emergency numbers, contact information for friends who could house your pet, copies of any licenses, and vaccination records)

A pet first-aid kit

Blanket and toy

During an emergency

Keep your pet inside during severe weather. Animals are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and often isolate themselves when scared. Never leave a pet outside or tethered during a storm.

Separate cats and dogs. Keep smaller pets such as hamsters away from larger animals. Stress can lead to unusual behaviour.

Keep newspaper inside for hygiene purposes and feed your pet wet food in order to reduce the amount of water it may need.

If ordered to evacuate, try to take your pet with you. If you must leave your pets in the house, do not tether or cage them. Leave a sign in the window and a note on the door indicating what animals are inside. Provide water and food in timed dispensers. Leave toilet seats up.

Special health needs

Establish a personal support network of friends, relatives, health-care providers, co-workers and neighbours who understand your special needs.

Write down details about:

Accommodation needs

Allergies

Emergency contacts

Family medical history

Health screenings

Insurance information

Medical conditions

Medication

Recent vaccinations

Surgeries

Keep a copy of this information in your emergency kit, and give a copy to your personal support network.

Talk to your doctor about preparing a grab-and-go bag, if possible, with a two-week supply of medication and medical supplies. Include prescriptions and medical documents. Remember that pharmacies may be closed for some time, even after an emergency is over.

Safe home instructions

Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and well-stocked first aid kit. If you live in an apartment, or if you are staying in a hotel, know where the fire alarms and at least two emergency exits are located.

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, including one in your kitchen. Everyone in your home should know where to find the fire extinguishers. All capable adults and older children should know how to use it. See instructions regarding the lifetime of your fire extinguisher and check with your local fire department for more information.

Older children and adults should know how to turn off your home’s water, electricity and gas. Make large, easy-to-see signs for water and gas shut-offs as well as for the electrical panel.

Teach children how and when to dial 9-1-1 as well as how to call the designated out-of-town contact.

Tips

Arrange for each family member to call, e-mail or text the same out-of-town contact person in case of an emergency.

Choose an out-of-town contact who lives far enough away that he or she is unlikely to be affected by the same event.

If you are new to Canada or have recently moved to a new area, make arrangements through friends, cultural associations or community organizations.

Your emergency plan

Here is a list of what to include in your emergency plan. You can complete a plan online at www.GetPrepared.ca.

Safe meeting place

Children

Designated person 1

Designated person 2

Health information

Medication and medical equipment

Emergency kit location

Pets

Emergency numbers (or 9-1-1 where available)

Fire

Police

Ambulance

Other

Non-emergency numbers

Fire

Police

Health clinic

Poison control

Other contact numbers

Out-of-town contact

Name

Phone (Home, Work, Cell)

E-mail

Home address

Family

Name

Phone (Home, Work, Cell)

E-mail

Home address

Friend/neighbour

Name

Phone (Home, Work, Cell)

E-mail

Home address

Family doctors

Patients’ names

Doctors’ names and phone numbers

Insurance agent/company

Name

Phone

Home and car policy numbers

Home security system

Company name

Phone

Fire extinguisher location

Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, including one in your kitchen.

Everyone in your home should know where to find the fire extinguishers. All capable adults and older children should know how to use it.

See instructions regarding the lifetime of your fire extinguisher and check with your local fire department for more information.

Water valve location

Utility company phone number

Electrical panel location

Utility company phone number

Gas valve location

Utility company phone number

Shut off gas only when authorities tell you to do so.

Floor drain location

Always make sure it is clear of boxes, furniture, etc in case of flooding.

Tip

For the gas and water valves, keep shut-off instructions close by and read them carefully.

Older children and adults should know how to turn off your home’s water, electricity and gas. Make large, easy-to-see signs for water and gas shut-offs as well as for the electrical panel.

Emergency instructions

Call 9-1-1 (where available) to report a fire, a crime or to save a life.

For non-emergency calls, use the ten-digit numbers listed in your local phone book, or your emergency plan, for police, fire and other health services.

When notifying emergency services of your location, provide the exact street or civic address and nearest intersection.

Teach children how and when to dial 9-1-1 as well as how to call the designated out-of-town contact.

In an emergency

Follow your emergency plan.

Get your emergency kit.

Make sure you are safe before assisting others.

Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities. Local officials may advise you to stay where you are. Follow their instructions.

Stay put until all is safe or until you are ordered to evacuate.

Tip

Limit phone calls to urgent messages only. Keep calls short to free up the lines for others

Evacuation orders

Authorities will not ask you to leave your home unless they have reason to believe that you may be in danger.

If you are ordered to evacuate, take your emergency kit, your wallet, personal identification for each family member and copies of essential family documents with you. Bring a cellular phone and spare battery or charger with you, if you have one. Use travel routes specified by local authorities.

If you have time, call or e-mail your out-of-town contact. Tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Once you are safe, let them know. Tell them if any family members have become separated.

If possible, leave a note telling others when you left and where you are. Shut off water and electricity if officials tell you to do so.

Leave natural gas service on unless officials tell you to turn it off. If you turn off the gas, the gas company has to reconnect it. In a major emergency, it could take weeks for a professional to respond.

Take pets with you. Lock your home. Follow instructions from authorities.

If you go to an evacuation centre, register your personal information at the registration desk. Do not return home until authorities advise that it is safe to do so.

Keeping in touch in emergencies

Being able to communicate with family, friends and emergency responders during an emergency is critical. However, keep in mind that everyday communication devices may not work properly during an emergency.

If possible, use non-voice channels like text messaging, email or social media, as these use less bandwidth than voice communications and may work even when phone service has been disrupted.

If you must use a phone, keep your conversation brief and convey only vital information. Keeping your calls short also saves the battery life of your mobile phone.

If you are unable to complete a call, wait 10 seconds before redialing to help reduce network congestion.

Keep extra batteries or a charger for your mobile device in your emergency kit. Consider getting a solar-powered, crank, or vehicle phone charger, or if you do not have a cell phone, keep a prepaid phone card in your kit.

If you have been evacuated and have call-forwarding on your home phone, use it to forward calls to your cell phone.

If you do not have a hands-free device in your car, stop driving or pull over to the side of the road before texting, making a call or using the device.

Keep your contacts up-to-date on your phone, email and other channels.

Note, cordless phones rely on electricity and will not work during a power outage. If you have a landline, keep at least one corded phone in your home.

Additional tips for smartphones

Save your safe meeting location(s) on your phone’s mapping application.

Conserve your battery by reducing the screen’s brightness and closing apps you are not using.

To reduce network congestion immediately after an emergency, avoid using your mobile device to stream videos, download entertainment, or play video games.

Sign up for direct deposit and electronic banking through your financial institution so you can access your funds and make electronic payments from wherever you are. For more information on how to stay safe online, visit GetCyberSafe.ca.

Get an emergency kit

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. You may need to get by without power or tap water. Be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

You may have some of the items already, such as food, water and a battery-operated or crank flashlight. The key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark?

Make sure your kit is easy to carry and everyone in the household knows where it is. Keep it in a backpack, duffle bag or suitcase with wheels, in an easy-to-reach, accessible place, such as your front-hall closet. If you have many people in your household, your emergency kit could get heavy. It’s a good idea to separate some of these supplies in backpacks. That way, your kit will be more portable and each person can personalize his or her own grab-and-go emergency kit.

View this short video on preparing a family emergency kit

Emergency kit basic items

Water – at least two litres of water per person per day; include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order

Food that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (replace food and water once a year)

Manual can-opener

Crank or battery-powered flashlight (and extra batteries)

Crank or battery-powered radio (and extra batteries)

First-aid kit

Extra keys to your car and house

Some cash in smaller bills, such as $10 bills and change for payphones

A copy of your emergency plan and contact information

If applicable, other items such as prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities, or food, water and medication

Recommended additional items

Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning

Candles and matches or lighter (place candles in deep, sturdy containers and do not burn unattended)

Change of clothing and footwear for each household member

Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each household member

Toiletries

Hand sanitizer

Utensils

Garbage bags

Toilet paper

Water purifying tablets

Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, work gloves, dust mask, pocket knife)

A whistle (in case you need to attract attention)

Duct tape (to tape up windows, doors, air vents, etc.)

Pre-packaged kits

Canadian Red Cross kits can be purchased at www.shop.redcross.ca. Various other kits and supplies are also available for sale from other commercial entities.

Emergency vehicle kit

Prepare a small kit and keep it in your vehicle.

The basic kit should include:

Blanket

Candle in a deep can and matches

Extra clothing and shoes

First aid kit with seatbelt cutter

Flashlight (crank or battery-powered). Replace batteries once a year.

Food that won’t spoil (such as energy bars)

List of contact numbers

Radio (crank or battery-powered). Replace batteries once a year.

Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush

Warning light or road flares

Water

Whistle

Recommended additional items to keep in your vehicle

Antifreeze, windshield washer fluid

Fire extinguisher

Road maps

Sand, salt or cat litter (non-clumping)

Tow rope and jumper cables

Tips

If you think your water is contaminated, check with your municipality or local authorities for details. When in doubt, do not drink water you suspect may be contaminated.

Keep some cash on hand, as automated bank machines and their networks may not work during an emergency. You may have difficulty using debit or credit cards.

No-cook recipe ideas for emergency preparedness

The power’s out, and dinnertime is approaching. If you’ve got a barbecue outside and plenty of gas, you’re set. But if, like many of us, you rely on a microwave or oven for meal preparation, it’s good to have some back-up meal ideas that don’t rely on electricity.

In case of an emergency such as an extended power outage, you should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for at least 72 hours (3 days). That means having enough food to eat, particularly food that isn’t prone to spoiling. Items such as canned foods, energy bars and dried foods are a good idea.If you do decide to cook, be aware that unvented combustion appliances, such as barbecues and cook stoves, must be used outdoors only. These appliances produce carbon monoxide, and even small amounts of this gas can be deadly indoors.

Stay safe and consider these no-cook ideas for your family during a power outage.

Campfire Supper

28 oz. can of diced tomatoes

19 oz. can of kidney beans

19 oz. can of pork and beans

Pepper to taste

Chilli powder to taste

A can of ham or chicken is also a nice addition to this recipe.

Mix together. Serve with crusty bread, biscuits, or crackers.

Beet Slaw

When you are tired of canned vegetables, soup and beans, something a little crunchy and different may hit the spot.

19 oz. can of sliced beets

19 oz. can of sauerkraut

½ cup beet juice (from can)

½ cup white vinegar

2 tablespoons of brown sugar

Drain ½ cup of the beet juice into a bowl. Cut beets into quarters and add to juice. Add the sauerkraut, but discard its juice. Mix in remaining ingredients. Let stand for an hour or more. After slaw has had a chance to sit, add more beet juice, brown sugar or vinegar to taste.

Peanut Butter Balls

¼ cup honey

⅓ cup peanut butter (or other nut butter)

½ cup powdered milk

⅓ cup dessicated or shredded coconut (optional)

Mix ingredients together. Shape into balls and enjoy! This is tasty and sweet but also nutritious. You can substitute some of the powdered milk with protein powder. This recipe can easily be doubled if you are feeding a crowd.

For more tips on food safety, such as what to do with refrigerated and frozen food during and after a power outage, visit: the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Resources

To learn more about emergency preparedness, visit www.GetPrepared.ca

Environment Canada (Weather)

www.weather.gc.ca
1-900-565-4455; a $2.99 per-minute charge applies
Check the blue pages in your local phonebook under Weather for weather reports and forecasting available by phone.

Canadian Red Cross

www.redcross.ca/prepare
613-740-1900 or check for your local branch phone number.

St. John Ambulance

www.sja.ca
613-236-7461 or check for your local branch phone number. Toll-free: 1-888-840-5646

Salvation Army

www.SalvationArmy.ca
416-425-2111 or check for your local branch phone number.

The Weather Network

www.theweathernetwork.com/weathercentre/emailclientaccount
Receive daily forecasts, weather warnings, public safety messages and more - right to your inbox.

Provincial and Territorial Resources

This publication was developed in collaboration with the provinces and territories:

Alberta Emergency Management Agency

Telephone: (780) 422-9000 / Toll-free: 310-0000
www.aema.alberta.ca

Emergency Management British Columbia

Telephone: (250) 952-4913 /Emergency: 1-800-663-3456
www.embc.gov.bc.ca

Manitoba Emergency Measures Organization

Telephone: (204) 945-3744 / Toll-free: 1-866-626-4862
www.manitobaemo.ca

New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization

Toll-free (24/7): 1-800-561-4034
www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en/departments/public_safety/emo.html

Newfoundland and Labrador

Fire and Emergency Services – Newfoundland and Labrador (FES-NL)
Telephone: (709) 729-3703
www.gov.nl.ca/fes

Northwest Territories Emergency Measures Organization

24 hr Emergency: (867) 920-2303
www.maca.gov.nt.ca/?page_id=500

Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office

Telephone (24 hr): 1-866-424-5620
www.gov.ns.ca/emo

Nunavut Emergency Management

Telephone: (867) 975-5403 / 24 hr Emergency: 1-800-693-1666
cgs.gov.nu.ca/en/commEmergency.aspx

Emergency Management Ontario

Telephone: (416) 314-3723 / 24 hr: 1-877-314-3723
www.ontario.ca/emo

Prince Edward Island Emergency Measures Organization

Telephone: (902) 894-0385
Toll-free 1 (877) 894-0385 / After Hours (902) 892-9365
www.gov.pe.ca/jps/index.php3?number=1030226&lang=E

Quebec – Ministère de la Sécurité publique

Telephone: (418) 646-6777 / Toll-free: 1-866-644-6826
General information (Services Québec): 1-877-644-4545
www.securitepublique.gouv.qc.ca/en/accueil.html

Saskatchewan Emergency Management Organization

Telephone: (306) 787-9563
www.gr.gov.sk.ca/SaskEMO

Yukon Emergency Measures Organization

Telephone: (867) 667-5220 / Toll-free: 1-800-661-0408
www.community.gov.yk.ca/emo/index.html