How to prepare a go bag, emergency kit or evacuation plan
Having enough essentials to get you through 72 hours can be crucial
Several months of record-setting wildfires and extreme weather across Canada have underscored the need for emergency preparedness for millions. Here's what you need to know.
Have an emergency plan
The Red Cross recommends that people create a home plan to prepare for a possible emergency and provides a template. Consider family members who may require assistance such as children, the elderly and those with mobility issues, and include pets.
Familiarize family members with the location of fire extinguishers and gas and electric utility shutoffs. Think about the best ways to evacuate from your home and decide on a safe place for family members to meet in case you are separated.
Once a plan is in place, practice it frequently.
Have a 'go bag' in case you need to leave quickly
A go bag is a small emergency kit that's easy to grab in case you need to evacuate your home or workplace on short notice. Here is the checklist from the B.C. government on what to include:
- Food (ready to eat) and water
- Phone charger and battery bank
- Small battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight
- Extra batteries
- Small first-aid kit and personal medications
- Personal toiletries and items, such as an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
- Copy of your emergency plan
- Cash in small bills
- Local map with your family meeting place identified
- Seasonal clothing and an emergency blanket
- Pen and notepad
- Whistle
- Copies of important documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver's licenses and insurance papers and an inventory of household effects.
Have an 72-hour emergency kit in your home
The B.C. government has a checklist for preparing an emergency kit that will last for three days in case you need to shelter in place. Food and water should be replaced twice a year. They advise putting supplies in one or 2 containers, such as plastic bins or duffel bags, and storing them in a part of your home that is easy to access.
The suggested list of contents includes:
- Non-perishable food: minimum three-day to one-week supply, with a manual can opener
- Water: four litres per person, per day for drinking and sanitation
- Phone charger, power bank or inverter
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight
- Extra batteries
- First-aid kit and medications
- Personal toiletries and items, such as an extra pair of glasses or contact lenses
- Copy of your emergency plan
- Copies of important documents, such as insurance papers and identification
- Cash in small bills
- Garbage bags and moist towelettes for personal sanitation
- Seasonal clothing, sturdy footwear and emergency blanket
- Dust masks
- Whistle
- Help/OK Sign: Display the appropriate side outward in your window during a disaster.
Nova Scotia's guide to disaster preparedness also has specific guidance for older adults, people with disabilities and people with mobility issues.
Have an emergency kit in your vehicle
The federal government advises having an emergency kit in your vehicle in case you can't return home or are stranded in your vehicle.
Here's what is recommended:
- Food that won't spoil, such as energy bars
- Water in plastic bottles so they won't break if frozen (change every six months)
- Blanket
- Extra clothing and shoes
- First aid kit with seatbelt cutter
- Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush
- Candle in a deep can and matches
- Wind-up flashlight
- Whistle in case you need to attract attention
- Roadmaps
- Copy of your emergency plan and personal documents
Also keep these inside your trunk:
- Sand, salt or cat litter (non clumping)
- Antifreeze/windshield washer fluid
- Tow rope
- Jumper cables
- Fire extinguisher
- Warning light or road flares
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