Emergency Kits

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 wind-up 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.

More information

Preparing a Family Emergency Kit

It's your responsibility to start gathering supplies and start thinking about what your family will need for at least 72 hours in an emergency.

Transcript

(A flooded highway is shown from a drone.)

(Music starts.)

Disasters can strike at any time, anywhere, including in your community.

(An orange circle icon of a cloud with lightning appears.)

Whether you need to leave your home or shelter in place, having a proper emergency kit that is portable and easy to find will ensure you have what you need to keep your household safe.

(The icons spins and transitions to a still image of the outside of a house.)

(A magnifying glass appears over the house and reveals an icon of an emergency kit.)

(The magnifying glass moves offscreen.)

In this video, we will look at what you need to build an emergency kit.

(A yellow circle appears in the middle of the screen, then fills the screen. Text appears, and an orange circle bounces behind it.)

(ONSCREEN TEXT: Build an emergency kit.)

(Text and orange circle move offscreen)

In an emergency, basic services like your water, electricity, gas and phone service may not work.

(Transition to a slow-motion video of a tornado.)

(4 icons appear: a faucet, a power cord, a gas pump and a phone. Each icon is then crossed out.)

An emergency kit can provide essential necessities for you and your loved ones.

Water is important for drinking, cooking and sanitation.

(Transition to a photograph of several water bottles.)

You will need about four litres per person, per day. Include small bottles that can be carried easily.

(ONSCREEN TEXT: 4 litres per person, per day)

You will also need food. Use some that won't spoil.

(Transition to a yellow screen. Four cans of food and two granola bars pop up.)

Include a manual can opener and add items like baby formula and pet food if you need them.

(A manual can opener also appears onscreen, as well as a circle with a checkbox in it. The box is checked off.)

(Three jars of baby food and a bottle appear onscreen.)

You may lose power in an emergency. Your kit should include a flashlight and a radio to stay informed.

(Transition to a black screen. A flashlight appears and turns on, casting yellow light on the now orange background.)

(Two types of portable radios pop up in the light.)

Pack extra batteries, or buy the kind that can be manually powered.

(Items disappear from screen and the screen transitions to yellow.)

You will also want chargers for your mobile devices. If you lose electricity or cellular networks are down, your cordless home phone or mobile device may not work.

(An orange circle appears in the middle of the screen. A phone and battery icon are drawn in the circle.)

Consider having a phone with a cord just for emergency use.

(The phone and battery disappear and are replaced with an icon of a corded phone.)

Your emergency kit wouldn't be complete without a first aid kit. It should include the basics like bandages, antiseptic wipes, protective gloves, pain relievers, and face masks.

(Transition to a still image of a mask, safety pins, bandages, scissors, medicine, wipes, and gloves. A checkmark appears on the items as they're mentioned.)

Now let's look at some items that may be less obvious. It may be difficult to get prescription medications during or even for a while after an emergency.

(Transition to a still image of several prescription bottles. An icon of a pill appears onscreen.)

If possible, include enough medication to last a couple of weeks. Also consider what specialized equipment may be needed for family or household members with limited mobility or special needs.

(The pill icon fills the screen and appears inside a calendar to cover two and a half weeks.)

It may also be difficult to get cash from banks. If possible, have enough to cover your basic needs for a few weeks.

(Transition to a still image of a pile of cash and change.)

Lastly, keep copies of important documents like birth certificates, wills, passports and insurance policies in your kit.

(Transition to a background of orange file folders with a yellow circle in the middle. Two passports and drivers' licenses are inside the circle.)

Remember to include a copy of your emergency plan, plus contact information for friends and family who may be able to help.

(A person is holding a pen and pointing at an emergency plan.)

Keep your emergency kit ready by replacing any items that might expire like food, water, batteries and medications, at least once a year.

(Transition to an orange screen. Icons appear in yellow circles: a battery, food, and medication.)

It may seem like a lot, but you probably already have many of the items you need. Print off an emergency kit checklist and the next time you're running errands, pick up a few items to add. Or you can buy a prepackaged kit

(Icons disappear and are replaced with a yellow screen. Several items pop up onscreen: A radio, a blanket, water bottles, a first aid kit, a flashlight, cans, a fire extinguisher, medication, a utility knife, a lantern.)

It's everyone's responsibility to ensure your household is prepared in case of an emergency. With a little preparation, you can be ready for anything.

(A family stands outside their home. An icon of an emergency kit appears beside them.)

Get started at GetPrepared.ca.

(ONSCREEN TEXT: Get started at GetPrepared.ca)

(Government of Canada wordmark)

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