Emergency Planning 101: Have a kit
Could you find your flashlight in the dark? Are the batteries good?
If you can’t answer these questions along with others, it explains why an emergency kit is an important part of your plan to be prepared in the event of a disaster or severe weather event.
Depending on the emergency, first responders may not be able to reach you. You may have no tap water, heat or power. Someone may be injured. That’s why you need the ability to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
Many of the items you may already have around the house. The key is to organize them and make sure they are easy to find by any member of your household. Whether you decide to keep it in a front hall, for example, it should be easy to reach and its location should be known by everyone. You can store it in suitcase on wheels or, depending on the size of your family unit, it might make more sense to split up some of the supplies into backpacks so things are more portable.
A basic emergency kit should contain:
- Water – at least two litres of water per person per day. Be sure to include small bottles that can be carried easily.
- Food that won't spoil, such as canned food, energy bars, and dried foods.
- Manual can-opener.
- Crank or battery-powered flashlight. Replace batteries once a year and carry extra ones.
- Crank, solar-powered radio, or Weatheradio.
- Communication supplies such as cords and portable chargers for cell phones.
- First aid kit
- Extra keys to your car and house
- Some cash in smaller bills
- A copy of your emergency plan and contact information
- Items for special needs: prescription medication, infant formula, equipment for people with disabilities
- Food, water, and medication for your pets
You can ramp up the basic emergency kit with these additional items:
- Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning
- Candles and waterproof 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 person
- Toiletries
- Hand sanitizer
- Utensils
- Garbage bags
- Toilet paper
- Water purifying tablets (If you think your water is contaminated, do not drink it.)
- Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, work gloves, dust mask, pocket knife)
- A whistle (in case you need to attract attention)
- Duct tape
If pulling all these supplies together sounds like too much to tackle, take heart! There are pre-packaged emergency kits you can buy from the Canadian Red Cross on the CRC website. The Salvation Army also has a standard kit as well as a car kit available for purchase on its website. Various other kits and supplies are also available for sale from other commercial outlets.
Whether you make it yourself or purchase it, an emergency kit provides peace of mind and saves lives. One day, it could be yours. Be ready when it counts!
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