Emergency Preparedness

Essentials

A 72-hour kit can provide enough clean water, food and supplies for your family during an emergency.

Place items in a backpacks, tote bins or boxes and ensure that everyone in your family is aware of its location.

• Food (non-perishable and easy-to-prepare items, enough for 3 days)
• A manual can opener
• Bottled water (4 litres per person for each day)
• Food and supplies for pets
• Medications
• Flashlights
• Batteries
• Portable Cell Phone charger
• Radio (crank or battery-run)
• First-aid kit
• Candles and matches/lighter
• Hand sanitizer or moist towelettes
• Important papers (identification, contact lists, copies of prescriptions, etc.)
• Extra car keys and cash
• Whistle (to attract attention, if needed)
• Zip-lock bag (to keep things dry)
• Garbage bags
• Money

Special Considerations

• Items for babies and small children—diapers, formula, bottles, baby food, comfort items
• Items for family members living with a disability - walkers, canes, assisted devices
• Prescription medication
• Medical supplies and equipment
• Pet food and supplies
• Any other items specific to your family's needs

Extra Supplies for Evacuation

• Clothes, shoes
• Sleeping bags or blankets
• Personal items (soap, toothpaste, shampoo, comb, other toiletries)
• Playing cards, travel games, other activities for children
• Credit card, bank cards and cash 
• Copies of important documents (i.e. passports, SIN cards, banking information, insurance policies, proof of address) 
• Extra set of house and card keys 
• Contact list 
• List of all medications you take and how often 

Vehicle Emergency Kit

Keep an emergency car kit in your trunk in case you need to stay in your vehicle due to a winter storm, flood or other situation.

• Food that wont spoil such as energy bars 
• Water - in plastic bottles so they won't break if frozen (change every six months)
• Extra clothing and shoes
• First aid kit with seatbelt cutter
• Small tool set
• Duct tape
• Emergency flares or triangles
• Sand, salt or kitty litter during winter
• Air compressor and/or puncture seal gels
• Tire gauge
• Fire extinguisher
• Ice scraper, small shovel and snow brush
• An emergency blanket
• Small amount of non-perishable emergency food/snacks
• Set of clothing for each person
• Booster cables
• Roadmaps
• Warning light or flares

Pet Emergency Kit

Create a pet emergency kit and place everything in a storage tote, box or bag.

• A sturdy crate or carrier
• A strong leash or harness
• ID tag and collar
• Food and water for at least 72 hours (4L/day per average dog, 1L/day per average cat)
• Bowls and can opener for food
• Newspaper, paper towels, plastic bags, litter, and/or litter box
• Special medications, dosage, and veterinarian's contact information
• Pet file (including recent photos of the animal, your emergency numbers, contact information for friends who could house your pet, copies of any licenses, and vaccination records)
• A pet first-aid kit
• Blanket and toy

Plan for evacuations. The best way to protect your pet in an emergency is to bring it with you. Most evacuation shelters will only accept service animals. Make a list of where your pet can be taken in case you need to evacuate. This list can include:

• Hotels that accept animals even during emergencies
• Boarding centres and animal shelters
• Animal clinics
• Family members and friends

• Include your pet in your family emergency plan exercises.

During an emergency

• Keep your pet inside during severe weather. Animals are very sensitive to sudden changes in temperature and often isolate themselves when scared. Never leave a pet outside or tethered during a storm.
• Separate cats and dogs. Keep smaller pets such as hamsters away from larger animals. Stress can lead to unusual behaviour.
• Keep newspaper inside for hygiene purposes and feed your pet wet food in order to reduce the amount of water it may need.
• If ordered to evacuate, try to take your pet with you. If you must leave your pets in the house, do not tether or cage them. Leave a sign in the window and a note on the door indicating what animals are inside. Provide water and food in timed dispensers. Leave toilet seats up.

Floods are the most frequent natural hazard in Canada. They can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of a thick snow pack, ice jams, or more rarely, the failure of a natural or man-made dam.

Before a flood

To help prevent or lessen the effects of flooding:

• Ensure sump pump is working; have a battery back-up
• Clear eaves troughs, catch basins, culverts and drainage ditches
• Review your insurance policy to ensure you are adequately covered
• Ensure your insurance coverage includes sewer back-up insurance
• Assemble a 72-Hour Emergency Kit

If a flood is imminent

• Turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve
• Move furniture, electrical appliances and other belongings to floors above ground level
• Move animals to floors above ground level
• Remove toxic substances such as pesticides and insecticides from the flood area to prevent pollution
• Remove toilet bowls and plug basement sewer drains and toilet connections with a wooden stopper
• Disconnect eavestroughs if they are connected to the house sewer
• Do NOT attempt to shut off electricity if any water is present. Water and live electrical wires can be lethal. Leave your home immediately and do not return until authorities indicate it is safe to do so

During a flood

• Keep your radio on to find out what areas are affected, what roads are safe, where to go and what to do if the local emergency team asks you to leave your home.
• Keep your emergency kit close at hand, in a portable container such as a duffel bag, back pack, or suitcase with wheels.
• Evacuate your home when you are advised to do so by local emergency authorities. Ignoring such a warning could jeopardize the safety of your family or those who might eventually have to come to your rescue.
• Take your emergency kit with you.
• Follow the routes specified by officials. Don't take shortcuts. They could lead you to a blocked or dangerous area.
• Make arrangements for pets.
• Time permitting, leave a note informing others when you left and where you went. If you have a mailbox, leave the note there

Listen to the local radio or television stations for severe weather warnings and advice. Keep a battery-powered or wind-up radio on hand as there can be power outages during severe storms.

Before a storm

Stock up on heating fuel and ready-to-eat food, as well as battery-powered or wind-up flashlights and radios - and extra batteries. 

• If a severe storm is forecasted, secure everything that might blown around or become loose - indoors and outdoors. Flying objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture can injure people and damage property.
• Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm.
• If you are indoors, stay away from windows, doors and fireplaces.
• You may want to go to the sheltered area that you and your family chose for your emergency plan.
• If you are advised by officials to evacuate, do so. Take your emergency kit with you.
• You can use a cellular telephone during a severe storm, but it's not safe to use a land-line telephone.
• If you are in a car, stop the car away from trees or power lines that might fall on you). Stay there.

During a storm

• If you are outside, stay away from trees, telephone poles, wires, fences, or anything metal. Seek a low lying area and don’t stand near anything made of metal.
• If indoors stay away from appliances or equipment — anything that will conduct electricity including sinks, tubs and showers and avoid using a telephone that is connected to a landline.

A tornado is an extremely powerful, dangerous, funnel-shaped wind vortex that comes into contact with the ground and causes damage. Tornado season runs from March to October with peak activity in late June or early July. These dangerous storms leave a path of destruction in their wake and an average tornado can cause a trail of damage six kilometres long. Signs of a tornado include: a dark greenish sky, large hail, often with little rain, visible cloud rotation, a funnel cloud hanging towards the ground, visible debris and a rumbling or whistling sound.

Warning signs of a Tornado

• Severe thunderstorms, with frequent thunder and lightning
• An extremely dark sky, sometimes highlighted by green or yellow clouds
• A rumbling sound or a whistling sound.
• A funnel cloud at the rear base of a thundercloud, often behind a curtain of heavy rain or hail.

Before a Tornado

Environment Canada is responsible for warning the public when conditions exist that may produce tornadoes. It does this through radio, television, newspapers, website and weather phone lines.

If you live in one of Canada's high-risk areas, you should listen to your radio during severe thunderstorms.

• If you receive a tornado watch or warning seek shelter immediately

During a Tornado

If you are in a house

• Go to the basement or take shelter in a small interior ground floor room such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.
• If you have no basement, protect yourself by taking shelter under a heavy table or desk.
• In all cases, stay away from windows, outside walls and doors.

If you live on a farm

• Livestock hear and sense impending tornadoes. If your family or home is at risk, the livestock will be a non-issue. If your personal safety is not an issue, you may only have time to open routes of escape for your livestock. Open the gate, if you must, and then exit the area in a tangent direction away from the expected path of the twister.

If you are in an office or apartment building

• Take shelter in an inner hallway or room, ideally in the basement or on the ground floor.
• Do not use the elevator.
• Stay away from windows.

If you are in a gymnasium, church or auditorium

• Large buildings with wide-span roofs may collapse if a tornado hits.
• If possible, find shelter in another building.
• If you are in one of these buildings and cannot leave, take cover under a sturdy structure such as a table or desk.

Avoid cars and mobile homes

• More than half of all deaths from tornadoes happen in mobile homes.
• Find shelter elsewhere, preferably in a building with a strong foundation.
• If no shelter is available, lie down in a ditch away from the car or mobile home. Beware of flooding from downpours and be prepared to move.

If you are driving

• If you spot a tornado in the distance go to the nearest solid shelter.
• If the tornado is close, get out of your car and take cover in a low-lying area, such as a ditch.

In all cases

• Get as close to the ground as possible, protect your head and watch for flying debris.
• Do not chase tornadoes - they are unpredictable and can change course abruptly.
• A tornado is deceptive. It may appear to be standing still but is, in fact, moving toward you.

Hurricane season officially runs from June through November when the waters of the Atlantic Ocean are warm enough to produce a tropical cyclone, a category of weather systems that includes tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. Environment Canada's Canadian Hurricane Centre encourages Canadians to prepare for the hurricane season.

Hurricanes can often be predicted one or two days in advance of their landfall. The key to hurricane protection is preparation. By taking precautions before, during, and after a hurricane, lives can be saved and property damage averted.

Before a Hurricane

It is important to stay informed by listening to the latest warnings and advisories on radio, television, or web sites. The Canadian Hurricane Centre will issue and update these when necessary.

• If a hurricane is forecast, secure everything that might be blown around or torn loose. Flying objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture can injure people and damage property.
• Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm.
• Stock up on water, ready-to-eat food and heating fuel, as well as battery-powered or wind-up flashlights and radios - and extra batteries. Make sure that there is gasoline in the car. For a complete list of emergency supplies, go to emergency kits. Also, learn what to have in your car emergency kit.

During a Hurricane

• Always check the marine forecast from the Weatheroffice website before going boating and listen to weather reports during your cruise. Never go out in a boat during a storm. If you are on the water and you see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately.
• Do not go down to the water to watch the storm. Most people who are killed during hurricanes are caught in large waves, storm surges or flood waters.
• If the eye of the hurricane passes over, there will be a lull in the wind lasting from two or three minutes to half an hour. Stay in a safe place. Make emergency repairs only and remember that once the eye has passed over, the winds will return from the opposite direction with possibly even greater force.
• Listen for reports from authorities on your portable radio.
• If lightning is present, remember that you can use a cellular telephone during a severe storm, but it's not safe to use a land-line telephone.

• Stay inside.
• Drop under heavy furniture such as a table, desk, bed or any solid furniture.
• Cover your head and torso to prevent being hit by falling objects.
• Hold onto the object that you are under so that you remain covered.
• If you can't get under something strong, or if you are in a hallway, flatten yourself or crouch against an interior wall.
• If you are in a shopping mall, go into the nearest store.
• Stay away from windows, and shelves with heavy objects.
• If you are at school, get under a desk or table and hold on. Face away from windows.
• If you are in a wheelchair, lock the wheels and protect the back of your head and neck.

If you are outdoors

• Stay outside.
• Go to an open area away from buildings.
• If you are in a crowded public place, take cover where you won't be trampled.

If you are in a vehicle

• Pull over to a safe place where you are not blocking the road. Keep roads clear for rescue and emergency vehicles.
• Avoid bridges, overpasses, underpasses, buildings or anything that could collapse.
• Stop the car and stay inside.
• Listen to your car radio for instructions from emergency officials.
• Do not attempt to get out of your car if downed power lines are across it. Wait to be rescued.
• Place a HELP sign in your window if you need assistance.
• If you are on a bus, stay in your seat until the bus stops. Take cover in a protected place. If you can't take cover, sit in a crouched position and protect your head from falling debris.

AVOID the following in an earthquake

• Doorways. Doors may slam shut and cause injuries.
• Windows, bookcases, tall furniture and light fixtures. You could be hurt by shattered glass or heavy objects.
• Elevators. If you are in an elevator during an earthquake, hit the button for every floor and get out as soon as you can.
• Downed power lines - stay at least 10 metres away to avoid injury.

After an earthquake

Stay calm. Help others if you are able.

• Be prepared for aftershocks.
• Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities. Follow their instructions. Place telephone receivers back in their cradles; only make calls if requiring emergency services.
• Put on sturdy shoes and protective clothing to help prevent injury from debris, broken glass.
• Check your home for structural damage and other hazards. If you suspect your home is unsafe, do not re-enter.
• If you have to leave your home, take your emergency kit and other essential items with you. Post a message in clear view, indicating where you can be found. Do not waste food or water as supplies may be interrupted.
• Do not light matches or turn on light switches until you are sure there are no gas leaks or flammable liquids spilled. Use a flashlight to check utilities and do not shut them off unless damaged. Leaking gas will smell.
• If tap water is still available immediately after the earthquake, fill a bathtub and other containers in case the supply gets cut off. If there is no running water, remember that you may have water available in a hot water tank (make sure water is not hot before touching it) and toilet reservoir (not the bowl).
• Do not flush toilets if you suspect sewer lines are broken.
• Carefully clean up any spilled hazardous materials. Wear proper hand and eye protection.
• Check on your neighbours after looking after members of your own household. Organize rescue measures if people are trapped or call for emergency assistance if you cannot safely help them.
• If you have pets, try to find and comfort them. If you have to evacuate, take them to a pre-identified pet-friendly shelter.
• Place a HELP sign in your window if you need assistance.
• Beware of secondary effects. Although ground shaking is the major source of earthquake damage, secondary effects can also be very destructive. These include landslides, saturated sandy soils becoming soft and unstable, flooding of low-lying areas and tsunamis washing over coastlines.

During a power outage, you may be left without heating/air conditioning, lighting, hot water, or even running water. If you only have a cordless phone, you will also be left without phone service. If you do not have a battery-powered or crank radio, you may have no way of monitoring news broadcasts. In other words, you could be facing major challenges.

You can greatly lessen the impact of a power outage by taking the time to prepare in advance. You and your family should be prepared to cope on your own during a power outage for at least 72 hours.

Before a power outage

• Use surge protectors to protect valuable electronics like computers and home entertainment systems
• Know how to safely shut off your electricity, water and gas (and if any special tools are needed)
• Keep your vehicle with no less than a half tank of gas because gas stations are electrically operated and won’t work during a power outage
• Have back-up light sources such as flashlights with batteries in all major rooms of your house
• Have a corded telephone that will work without home power (cordless phones will not work without electricity)
• Know how to release your electric garage door opener and how to open the door without electricity (some openers have a battery back-up)
• Have a cooler on hand that can be filled with ice or freezer blocks for cold food storage if needed If you depend on home oxygen (or other life-sustaining equipment), have a back-up that does not rely on power (such as battery back-up). Contact your service provider for options.

During a power outage

• Check if the power outage is limited to your home. If your neighbours' power is still on, check your own circuit breaker panel or fuse box. If the problem is not a breaker or a fuse, check the service wires leading to the house. If they are obviously damaged or on the ground, stay at least 10 meters back and notify your electric supply authority. Keep the number along with other emergency numbers near your telephone.
• If your neighbours' power is also out, notify your electric supply authority.
• Turn off all tools, appliances and electronic equipment, and turn the thermostat(s) for the home heating system down to minimum to prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored. Also, power can be restored more easily when there is not a heavy load on the electrical system.
• Turn off all lights, except one inside and one outside, so that both you and hydro crews outside know that power has been restored.
• Don't open your freezer or fridge unless it is absolutely necessary. A full freezer will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed.
• Never use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment, or home generators indoors or in garages. They give off carbon monoxide. Because you can't smell or see it, carbon monoxide can cause health problems and is life-threatening.
• Use proper candle holders. Never leave lit candles unattended and keep out of reach of children. Always extinguish candles before going to bed.
• Listen to your battery-powered or wind-up radio for information on the outage and advice from authorities.

Alectra services the Town of Aurora's power outages. For tips on how to be prepared for a power outage view Alectra's Power Outage Preparedness Guide.

Ice from freezing rain accumulates on branches, power lines and buildings. If you must go outside when a significant amount of ice has accumulated, pay attention to branches or wires that could break due to the weight of the ice and fall on you. Ice sheets could also do the same.

During a Ice Storm

• Stay inside and have your emergency kit prepared and near you
• If you must go out, never touch power lines. A hanging power line could be charged (live) and you would run the risk of electrocution. Remember also that ice, branches or power lines can continue to break and fall for several hours after the end of the precipitation.
• When freezing rain is forecast, avoid driving. Even a small amount of freezing rain can make roads extremely slippery. Wait several hours after freezing rain ends so that road maintenance crews have enough time to spread sand or salt on icy roads.
• Rapid onsets of freezing rain combined with the risks of blizzards increase the chances for extreme hypothermia. If you live on a farm, move livestock promptly to shelter where feed is available. Forage is often temporarily inaccessible during and immediately after ice storms. Animal reactions to ice storms are similar to that of blizzards.

Wildfires

Before a wildfire

Make sure that your family and the members of your household are prepared, should a wildfire occur:

• Ensure that you have an emergency plan in place and that your emergency kits are ready in case you need them.
• Stay informed of weather conditions and advisories in your area. Be especially aware of potentially triggering weather conditions, such as droughts and lightning storms.
• Contact your local municipal, provincial or territorial emergency management organization to familiarize yourself with evacuation routes and procedures.
• Know and practice your primary escape route, as well as multiple routes out of your community. Remember that evacuation routes can be impacted by the wildfire.

Protect your home

If you live in a potential wildfire hazard zone, take these preventative steps to ensure that your home and your property are protected:

• Remove any fire hazards in and around your home, such as dried out branches, leaves and debris.
• Keep a sprinkler that is in good working condition in an accessible location.
• Make sure smoke alarms are placed on every level of the home, and preferably in every bedroom. Test your smoke detectors once per month. Batteries should be replaced every 6 months, while the alarm itself should be replaced once every 10 years.
• Consult with your local fire department or a qualified engineer about making your home fire-resistant.
• If you are on a farm/ranch, sheltering livestock may be the wrong thing to do because a wildfire could trap animals inside, causing them to burn alive. Leaving animals unsheltered is preferable, or if time and personal safety permits, evacuation away from the danger zone should be considered.

Other considerations

• Learn how to turn off the utilities in your residence. You may be instructed by local authorities to shut them off.
• Make sure that your vehicle has enough fuel. If evacuation becomes necessary, it will be hard to stop for gas. Depending on your region or the distance that you might need to drive, you may want to purchase additional approved gas cans.
• If you need assistance, place a HELP sign in your window.
• Check on elderly relatives and neighbours to see if they require assistance.
• Ensure that pets and/or service animals are accounted for. Be sure to include them in your evacuation plans.

During a wildfire

• Monitor the wildfire’s progress through radio, television or local social media accounts for warnings or information from authorities and emergency officials who coordinate evacuation plans.
• If an evacuation order is issued or you have to leave your home, be sure to take your emergency kit and other essential items with you.
• If you are comfortable doing so, post a message in clear view, indicating where you are going and how you can be contacted.
• Keep all doors and windows closed in your home.
• Keep lights on to aid visibility in case smoke fills the house.
• Be aware of any downed power lines which can cause electrocution. Be sure to stay at least 10 metres away from them to avoid injury. Do not attempt to drive through areas that may be affected by downed power lines.
• Do not attempt to drive through a wildfire.

When a wildfire is approaching your home

If you see a fire approaching your home or community, report it immediately by dialing 9-1-1 or your local emergency number. If it is safe enough to do so, you should take some or all of the following actions:

• Close all windows and doors in the house.
• Cover vents, windows, and other openings of the house with duct tape and/or precut pieces of plywood.
• Park your car, positioned forward out of the driveway. Keep car windows closed.
• Pack your emergency kit and any valuables or items that cannot be replaced in the car, should you need to evacuate.
• Turn off propane or natural gas. Move any propane barbeques into the open, away from structures.
• Turn on the lights in the house, porch, garage and yard to aid visibility in case smoke fills the house.
• Place a ladder to the roof in the front of the house to assist firefighters.
• Move all combustibles away from the house, including firewood and lawn furniture.
• Follow local social media and/or stay tuned to your local radio station for up-to-date information on the fire and possible road closures.

After a wildfire

• Remember that you may encounter conditions that make walking or driving difficult. Roads may be littered with debris, trees may be down, and traffic lights may not be working.
• Be aware of any downed power lines which can cause electrocution. Be sure to stay at least 10 metres away from them to avoid injury. Do not attempt to drive through areas that may be affected by downed power lines.
• Listen to the radio, television or local social media accounts for information to follow from authorities and emergency officials.
• Only make phone calls if someone's life is in danger or if they require immediate emergency assistance. Otherwise, use alternative communication methods.
• Seek immediate medical attention if injured.

Returning to your home

• If you have been forced to evacuate, follow evacuation orders and stay outside the evacuation zone until authorities have advised that it is safe to return.
• Work with local authorities and professional engineers to assess the structural safety of your home. Only re-enter your home after authorities advise that it's structurally safe to do so.