Emergency Planning
Emergencies can happen at any time. One of the best ways you can be prepared for an unexpected emergency is to have an Emergency Kit and an Emergency Plan.
Your emergency plan should include how you will get out of your home and your neighborhood. It should also include how your family will meet or contact each other.
If you have children, family members who need assistance or pets, be sure your plan includes them too.
Your emergency kit should ensure that you and your family can be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. You can purchase a kit through local hardware stores, CAA or the Canadian Red Cross or you can make a kit yourself.
A basic kit should include:
- flashlight
- battery-operated radio and/or crank-radio
- spare batteries (for flashlight and/or radio) or portable power banks (USB port) to charge cell phones
- first-aid kit
- spare car keys and house keys
- extra cash
- important documents (photocopies of photo identification cards, passport, insurance policies) and a waterproof folder
- emergency contact information
- non-perishable food and bottled water (ensure you have a three-day supply per person)
- items needed to open food (such as manual can-opener, scissors)
- clothing and footwear (season-appropriate)
- personal hygiene items
- toilet paper
- medication (especially prescription, 72-hours’ worth at least)
- eyewear (glasses, contacts)
- recent photos of family members in your case you are all separated
- a copy of your Emergency Plan
You can find more information about emergency kits including suggested items for pets, car survival kits and checklists for children or vulnerable family members by visiting Halton Region’s Emergency Preparedness Page.
You can also find additional resources to prepare for emergencies by visiting getprepared.gc.ca