Emergencies can happen at any time. It is important to know the risks, create a plan and put together an emergency kit so you can be in better control of the situation and recover faster.
To make sure you and your family are fully prepared for an emergency, view:
Know the risks
Northwestern Ontario is vulnerable to a variety of natural and human-caused hazards. Make sure you and your family know what potential hazards and risks are for where you live.
High impact hazards
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Potential hazards that have a high impact in our community include:
- Severe weather events
- Ice or sleet storms
- Forest fires
- Windstorms
- Extreme cold
- Failure of water infrastructure
- Water-main network
- Pumping stations
- Human health epidemics
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Lower impact hazards
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Potential hazards with a lower impact include:
- Thunderstorms
- Lightning
- Power outages
- Earthquakes
- Hazardous spills
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Personal emergencies
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Personal emergencies that may happen in your home include:
- Basement flooding
- Medical emergencies
- Fires in the home
- Crime
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Once you know your risks, do a home hazard hunt to make your home safer. This includes securing appliances and heavy furniture and move beds away from overhead objects like heavy mirrors and windows. For more information, learn more of what you can do to prepare for hazards and emergencies.
Create an emergency plan
When you create an emergency plan, you will be able to save time and respond more calmly in an emergency. Create a plan with the members of your household so you can work as a team and ensure everyone is aware of their responsibilities.
Things to consider when you create your emergency plan:
- Identify safe places in your home and on your property
- Identify two family meeting places away from your home but close to your regular meeting places between work, school, and home
- Arrange an emergency contact person and other emergency phone numbers for you and your family to call if you need help
- Keep everyone informed of where your emergency information and supplies are kept
- Ensure every adult in your household knows how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water, and gas
- Know how to use a fire extinguisher
- Know how you plan to evacuate your pets safely from an emergency
- Give every family member specific safety tasks to do in an emergency (i.e. designate one person to be in charge of turning off the electricity, one person to collect the emergency container, and another person to ensure all members are provided for)
Once you've created your emergency plan, practice it with your family twice a year. Consider driving your planned evacuation route. Plot alternate routes on a map in case main roads are closed.
Create an emergency kit
In an emergency, you'll need basic supplies to keep you safe until help arrives or the emergency settles. Your emergency kit should allow you to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Keep your emergency kit in an easy-to-reach place where everyone knows to find it. Check it twice a year to update the food, water, and medication and to restock any items you may have borrowed.
Emergency evacuation kit
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Every emergency kit may look different depending on your needs. For your emergency evacuation kit holder, be sure to find a large portable container with a tight-fitting lid to keep near an exit in your home or garage (i.e. plastic storage bin, suitcase or garbage can with wheels).
Basic items to include in your emergency evacuation kit include:
- Flashlight
- Battery-operated or crank radio
- Spare batteries for flashlight or radio
- First-aid kit
- Candles, matches (waterproof) or lighter
- Extra car keys and cash
- Important papers (i.e. copies of identification and insurance policies)
- Non-perishable food including canned soup and meat, packaged foods, and dried fruit
- Bottled water for up to three days for each person (including pets)
- Items needed to open food (i.e. manual can opener)
- Plastic or paper cups and dishes
- Large and medium sized plastic garbage bags (i.e. orange or yellow bags make good visible signals and large bags can be used as ponchos, ground covers or blankets)
- Clothing and footwear (i.e. seasonal clothing, heavy work gloves and sturdy shoes)
- Blankets or sleeping bags
- Toilet paper and other personal hygiene items
- First aid kit that includes prescription medications, eyeglasses, bandages, sterile gauze pads, tape, scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, and hydrogen peroxide
- Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
- Playing cards (or other quiet games or toys)
- Paper, pencils, or pens
- Map of your community (for locating shelters)
- A copy of the Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide
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At-home emergency kit
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In some emergencies, you may need to shelter in your home. This might happen during an extended power or water outage. This at-home emergency kit may include similar items as your emergency kit for evacuations. Be sure to store items in a waterproof pack or duffle bag and put it in a place where everyone knows where to find it.
Items for your at-home emergency kit include:
- Water (at least a three-day supply for each member of your family and pets, if needed)
- Non-perishable food (at least a three-day supply and select foods that don't need refrigeration, preparation, cooking, and little water)
- First aid supplies including personal care items such as toothpaste and soap, and a supply of non-prescription drugs
- Tools and supplies (i.e. battery-operated radio, flashlight, extra batteries, lantern and fuel, candles, compass, matches in a waterproof container, signal flare, whistle, pocketknife, or multi-tools)
- Clothing and bedding (i.e. one change of clothing and footwear per person, rain gear, blankets or sleeping bags and sweaters)
- Special items (i.e. photo ID, passports, driver's license, health cards, bank account, credit card numbers and a small amount of cash, photos of family members in case you are separated)
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Consider those who need extra help
When you create your emergency plan and safety kit, consider those who may need extra help during an emergency:
Access Canada's emergency preparedness guide for people with disabilities and special needs for more information.
26 weeks to emergency preparedness
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Accomplish one of these goals each week to prepare you and your family for any emergency in under 6 months:
- Identify safe places in your home and on your property, then practice evacuation drills using different escape routes
- Identify a family meeting place away from home but close to your regular meeting places between work, home, and school
- Arrange an emergency contact person, along with other emergency phone numbers and add it to your phone contacts and in each person's wallet or backpack
- Stock your home with a seven-day water supply for every family member, including your pets (approximately four litres per person)
- Get a large portable container with a tight-fitting lid to keep near an exit in your home or garage and label it your emergency evacuation kit (i.e. plastic storage bin, suitcase or garbage can with wheels)
- Stock your home with a variety of packaged foods, dried soups, canned meats, dried fruit, and a can opener that will supply you and your family for seven days (if needed, include infant supplies and pet supplies)
- Stock your kit with paper dishes and cups
- Stock your kit with large and medium sized plastic garbage bags (i.e. orange or yellow bags make good visible signals and large bags can be used as ponchos, ground covers or blankets)
- Get a portable radio and extra batteries, along with candles and waterproof matches to your kit
- Learn and know the hazards in your community and do a home hazard hunt to make your home safer (i.e. secure appliances and heavy furniture, and move beds away from overhead objects like heavy mirrors and windows)
- Prepare a first aid kit that includes prescription medications, eyeglasses, bandages, sterile gauze pads, tape, scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, and hydrogen peroxide
- Give every family member specific safety tasks to do in an emergency (i.e. designate one person to be in charge of turning off the electricity, one person to collect the emergency container, and another person to track down family members and make sure people with disabilities, special health needs or pets are provided for)
- Check your insurance policies and make inventory records of your valuable possessions
- Add a change of clothing for each family member to your kit including seasonal clothing, heavy work gloves and sturdy shoes
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