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26 Steps to Get Prepared
Emergency services and utilities may not be available for 72 hours after an emergency situation such as a power outage, severe storm, flood or earthquake. Are you and your family are prepared to survive on your own for at least 72 hours after disaster strikes?
Follow these 26 steps to get prepared!
- Get a portable container with a lid to use an emergency kit, such as a plastic storage bin. Label it and choose an accessible location for it near an exit. Make sure all family members know its purpose and location.
- Stock your kit with a three-day supply of water, including water for your pets. You need four litres of water per person per day – two for drinking and two for food preparation and hygiene.
- Arrange an out-of-area phone contact person, and keep this and other emergency phone numbers near each telephone. Teach family members these numbers.
- Stock your emergency kit with several varieties of canned meat and dried fruit. Include a manual can opener.
- Put a portable radio and batteries in your emergency kit.
- Learn what hazards are in your community, and also do a home hazard hunt. Secure appliances and heavy furniture, and move beds away from heavy mirrors and windows.
- Give every family member tasks for an emergency, e.g. turning off electricity, collecting the emergency kit or taking charge of pets. Add peanuts and granola bars to your kit.
- Identify safe places in your home and practice your “drop, cover and hold” position. Add juice or juice crystals to your kit.
- Stock your kit with large and medium plastic garbage bags (orange or yellow make good visible signals). Large bags can also be used as ponchos, ground covers or blankets. Add plastic or paper dishes.
- Identify a family meeting place away from home but close to your regular spots (between work and home or school). Add some books, toys and cards to your emergency kit.
- Add a flashlight and extra batteries, along with candles and waterproof matches to your emergency kit.
- Add some dried soups and crackers to your emergency kit.
- Check your insurance policies and make records of your possessions.
- Prepare a first-aid kit that includes extra prescription medication and eyeglasses, bandages, sterile gauze pads, tape, scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide and over-the-counter pain pills.
- Add a change of clothing for each family member to your emergency kit. Be sure to include warm clothing, heavy work gloves and sturdy shoes.
- Add some canned food like stews, baked beans and vegetables to your emergency kit.
- Enroll your family members in the upcoming free Emergency Preparedness courses. Phone 604.927.5466 to register.
- Add personal toiletries (e.g. toilet paper, handy wipes, soap, detergent, toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, sanitary supplies) to your emergency kit.
- Add evaporated or powdered milk and cereal to your kit.
- Get a large bucket with tight-fitting lid to use as a toilet, and put it with your kit. Store tools in it, such as an axe, folding shovel and rope.
- Add some freeze-dried or foil pouch food products such as meats, soups, vegetables and stews to your emergency kit.
- Add a pocket knife (Swiss army style), cutlery, a whistle and spare set of house and car keys to your kit.
- Keep a leash or pet carrier near your emergency kit and add a three-day supply of pet food.
- Add sleeping bags or blankets to your kit, along with water purification tablets.
- Place important documents such as wills, insurance papers, medical records, inventory of possessions and ID into a fire/waterproof container. Add a family photo album to your emergency kit.
- Now you are prepared! Make sure to rotate and replace items as they expire, and to practice and update your plan as your family’s needs change.
