Before an Emergency

• Power outages
• Severe winter storms
• Floods
• Heat emergencies
• Infectious disease outbreaks
• Hazardous chemical releases

You and your family can create an action plan for emergencies. You should also have a supplies box for emergencies that keep you in your home. Proper planning can reduce the negative effects of an emergency.

Learn how to make an emergency plan, create an emergency kit and stay informed.

Basic emergency kit

Your basic could should include:

• Water (at least 2 L per person, per day, include small battles that can be carried).
• Food won't spoil (non-perishable items such as canned foods, energy bars, dried foods). Replace and check expiration dates once a year on unused kits.
• Manual can-opener.
• Flashlight and extra batteries or a crank flash light. Replace and check batteries once a year.
• Battery or crank-operated radio, extra batteries, or Weatheradio.
• First aid kit.
• Extra keys to home and vehicles.
• Money in cash, small bills and change for small purchases and payphones. In an emergency, banks and bank machines may be down, including credit card readers.
• A copy of all of your emergency plans, contact information, and shelter locations.
• Any prescription medication, baby food or formula, items for accessibility needs, items for pets or service animals, if applicable to your family.

Additional items to add to your kit

We recommend adding the following items to your kit as well:

• 2 L more of water per person, per day for cooking, cleaning, etc.
• Candles in a deep can, matches and lighters.
• Change of clothes, footwear, towels.
• Sleeping bags and warm blankets.
• Toiletries such as toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, razors, etc.
• Hand sanitizer.
• Utensils and items for cooking and eating, a pot to boil water, etc.
• Garbage bags.
• Toilet paper.
• Knives and basic tools (hammer, pliers, screwdriver, work gloves, dust mask, wrench).
• A whistle to call attention.
• Duct tape for windows, doors, air vents, etc.
• Household chlorine bleach or water purifying tablets. Check that water is safe to drink before you do so.

Red Cross pre-packaged kits

You can buy a Red Cross pre-packaged emergency kit.

Emergency vehicle kit

You should also prepare a small emergency kit for your car that includes:

• Blankets.
• Candles in a deep can, matches and lighters.
• Extra clothing, shoes and towels.
• First aid kit with seatbelt cover.
• Multi-purpose vehicle emergency tool with window-breaker, seat belt cover, flashlight, etc.
• Crank or battery powered flashlight, with extra batteries.
• Food that won't spoil, such as energy bars.
• Bottled water.
• List of emergency contact numbers and shelter addresses.
• Radio (battery or crank).
• Small shovel, scraper and snow brush.
• Warning lights and road flares.
• A whistle to signal trouble.
• Tire iron and spare tire.

Additional items for your vehicle

You should also keep these items in your vehicle in case of emergency:

• Antifreeze and/or windshield washer fluid.
• Fire extinguisher.
• Road maps with emergency locations circled.
• Sand, salt, cat litter (non-clumping) for weight or ice.
• Tow rope.
• Jumper cables.
• Battery starter/charger.

Emergency kits for pets

Keep these items in your emergency pet kit:

• Water for your pet (in addition to the 2 L of water per person, per day).
• Identification and rabies tag, extra collar.
• Veterinary records.
• Carrier/crate and leash.
• Any medications your pet requires.
• Waste bags and hand sanitizer.
• A supply of food, dried and canned. Canned food should have peel open lids, or bring a manual can-opener.
• Food and water bowls.
• Blankets and towels.

If you have special needs or accessibility needs, create an emergency plan that considers them. Proper emergency planning can help you handle difficult situations.

Emergency preparedness guide

See Ontario's emergency preparedness guide for people with special needs or accessibility needs.