Preparing for an Emergency

By preparing both mentally and physically, you can increase your confidence and ability to handle a real emergency situation. Being prepared can reduce the fear, anxiety and losses that disasters often bring.

No two households are the same. When you're building your household emergency plan, be mindful of everyone in your household. Evaluate the needs of groups like seniors, people with disabilities, children and pets. You can visit the Government of Ontario emergency management website for information and resources on how to build an inclusive family emergency plan.

Family communications plan

During an emergency, phone lines may be damaged and networks could be down. It might be easier to reach someone using text messaging, social media or a phone call. Discuss with your family the ways you will try to get in touch with each other. Identify one or two out-of-town contacts you and your loved ones can call or text to connect and share information. Make sure they live far enough away so they will likely not be affected by the same emergency.

In emergencies, text messages may get through even when phone calls won't connect.

Always keep your communication devices (e.g. cellphone, laptop, tablets) fully charged.

Evacuation plan

In case you are asked to evacuate your home or neighborhood, select two safe locations where you could go. For your nearby option, be aware that the City may identify and direct residents to specific facilities during an emergency, so monitor official instructions as they become available.

Your second location should be farther away, in case the emergency affects a larger area and nearby options are not available. Consider identifying relatives or friends that you can stay with. 

Plan how you would travel to each location, considering different transportation options if roads are blocked or public transit is not running. If you have pets, think of someone who could take them if you have to leave your home, or identify shelters and accommodations that accept animals.

Evacuation route

Make sure everyone in your home knows how to safely exit your home by a main exit and an alternate exit, like a garage or backdoor. If you have mobility issues or a disability, talk to your neighbours or building manager to make special arrangements.

In a fire or other emergency, you may need to evacuate your house, apartment or mobile home on a moment's notice. You should be ready to get out fast.

Develop an escape plan by drawing a floor plan of your residence. Using a black or blue pen, show the location of doors, windows, stairways, and large furniture. Indicate the location of emergency supplies (disaster supplies kit), fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, collapsible ladders, first aid kits and utility shut off points. Next, use a coloured pen to draw a broken line charting at least two escape routes from each room. Finally, mark a place outside of the home where household members should meet in case of fire.

Be sure to include important points outside such as garages, patios, stairways, elevators, driveways and porches. If your home has more than two floors, use an additional sheet of paper.

Practice emergency evacuation drills with all household members at least twice a year.

Understanding your options during an emergency will help you to respond more consciously and manage your natural instincts of “fight, flight or freeze.” You may only have a few seconds to evaluate the situation, and in that moment you can ask yourself these types of questions:

• Should I evacuate?
• Should I shelter-in-place?
• Where are the building exits?
• How do I call for help?

Once you have evaluated the situation and understand your options, you are able to choose how to respond to the emergency in the way that maximizes your safety. Remember:

• Do not take unnecessary risks.
• Remain as calm as possible.
• Make safe and informed decisions.
• Trust your instincts.

• Find out which local media outlets broadcast emergency instructions and monitor them regularly, particularly during uncertain weather conditions. Post the address/dial/channel numbers of these media outlets for easy access.
• Have an arrangement in place with neighbours to advise each other of an emergency notification.
• Be familiar with your workplace emergency plan and your children's school or day care emergency plans. Have backup care arrangements in place with the school or day care in case you are detained in an emergency.
• Post all emergency plans and phone numbers in a prominent place at home and at your workplace.
• In the event of an emergency, you may be instructed to evacuate or shelter-in-place.
• Learn first aid. Professional medical assistance may not be immediately available.
• Emergency preparedness on a budget.

Emergency planning can help to ensure an effective response to emergencies.

Have a family meeting to discuss potential emergency situations. Talk about what each family member should do in different situations.

Develop your plan based on an assessment of the kinds of emergencies that can occur in your province and community. Natural events can include winter storms, floods or tornadoes. Secondary events, such as power outages, road closures / transportation disruptions and communication outages can follow a weather-related event and prolong a state of emergency. While the emergency incident may vary, the elements of an effective response are often the same.

Ensure elderly family members, who may not live with you, are included in your emergency plan.

Conduct a hazard audit of your home. Identify potential risks and make note of how to respond to them. Learn how to safely turn off your main water and gas valves if needed. Locate the safe areas in your home in case of severe weather, such as interior rooms, closets, or the lowest floor level during a tornado. Consider how your household will respond in different emergency scenarios and ensure everyone knows the plan.

Select a predetermined meeting place if an emergency other event forces your family out of your home. Ask someone outside your immediate area to act as a central point of contact for your family members, relatives and friends in an emergency.

Meet with your neighbours. Plan how the neighbourhood could work together after an emergency. Know your neighbour's skills (medical, technical). Consider how you could help neighbours who have special needs, such as elderly or disabled persons. Make plans for child care in case parents can't get home.

Practice and maintain your plan. Emergencies can occur at any time, and when they do, you may have very little time to react. Regularly reviewing and practicing your emergency plan helps ensure that you and your household can respond quickly and confidently when every second counts.

For example:

A hazardous material spill may require you to evacuate your home or neighbourhood to ensure your safety.

A winter storm could confine your family at home. An earthquake, flood, tornado or any other emergency could cut off basic services (gas, water, electricity and telephones) for days.

There are eight basic supplies you should stock in your emergency kit:

• water / food, 
• pet supplies,
• first aid supplies,
• clothing,
• flashlights,
• portable chargers,
• Cash, and
• Copies of important documents – insurance, medications, identification, emergency contact lists, and any other critical records.

Consider how mobility, health, or assistive needs may affect your emergency plans, including evacuation and access to care.

Keep the items that you would most likely need during an evacuation in an easy to carry container such as a duffle bag, backpack, or small plastic tote. 

Having a small supply of water and non-perishable food on hand can make emergencies more comfortable. Aim to store water (2 litres per person per day) and non-perishable food items that your household already enjoys. These can include canned goods, dry mixes, and other familiar staples.

It’s recommended to keep enough supplies to support each member of your household for at least 3 days (72 hours). Be sure to include a manual can opener and choose items that don’t require cooking or special preparation.

Most people already have many suitable foods at home — simply check expiry dates and rotate items into your regular meals as needed.

Nutrition and food storage advice

During a power outage, keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. A refrigerator will keep food cold for about four hours, and a full freezer for up to 48 hours (less if it's only half full). If food has been above 4 degrees Celsius for more than two hours, it should be thrown away. When in doubt, throw it out.

During emergencies, remember to drink enough fluids and choose foods that provide energy and support your well-being. If you regularly take vitamins or supplements, consider including them in your emergency supplies so you can maintain your routine.

Special considerations to keep in mind

As you stock food, take into account your family's unique needs and tastes. Foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking are best.

Individuals with special diets and allergies will need particular attention, as will babies, toddlers and the elderly. Nursing mothers may need liquid formula, in case they are unable to nurse. Canned dietetic foods, juices and soups may be helpful for the ill or elderly.

Make sure you have a can opener and disposable utensils. And don't forget non-perishable foods for your pets.

How to store your short-term stockpile

Keep canned foods in a dry place where the temperature is fairly cool, but not below freezing. To protect boxed foods from pests and extend their shelf life, store the boxes in tightly closed cans or metal containers.

Rotate your food supply. Use foods before they go bad, and replace them with fresh supplies, dated with ink or marker. Place new items at the back of the storage area and older ones in front.

Your emergency food supply should be of the highest quality possible. Inspect your reserves periodically to make sure that there are no broken seals or dented containers.

Storage tips

• Keep food in the driest and coolest spot in the house – a dark area if possible.
• Keep food covered at all times.
• Open food boxes or cans carefully so that you can close them tightly after each use.
• Wrap cookies and crackers in plastic bags, and keep them in air-tight containers.
• Empty opened packages of sugar, dried fruits and nuts into screw-top jars or air-tight cans to protect them from pests.
• Inspect all food containers for signs of spoilage before use.

How to cook if the power goes out

For emergency cooking you can use a fireplace, or a charcoal grill or camp stove out-doors only.

You can also heat food with candle warmers, chaffing dishes and fondue pots.

Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container:

• Will, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
• Passports, social security cards, immunization records
• Bank account numbers
• Credit car account numbers and companies
• Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
• Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)
• Photos of family members in case you are separated in an emergency

Home emergency kit

Include enough supplies for a minimum of 72 hours:

• Water
• Non-perishable food (i.e. peanut butter, crackers, energy bars)
• Can opener and eating utensils
• Flashlight and extra batteries
• Radio and extra batteries, or crank-radio
• First-aid kit
• Whistle
• Medication (three day supply) and items for special needs (i.e. hearing aid batteries)
• Cash and some change
• Clothes and comfortable shoes for every member of your family
• Copies of important documents (i.e. identification, passports, health cards, insurance policies)
• Mobile device charger
• Matches in a waterproof container
• Sleeping bags or blankets for each family member

Regularly check your emergency kit to make sure batteries and device chargers are working, and that food, medical supplies, and medications are not expired. Keeping your kit up to date ensures it will be ready when you need it most.

Car emergency kit

• First-aid kit
• Non-perishable food (i.e. trail mix, energy bars)
• Water
• Blanket
• Extra clothing and shoes (i.e. hat, mitts, coat, boots)
• Seatbelt cutter
• Small shovel, scraper and snowbrush
• Sand, salt or cat litter
• Antifreeze / windshield washer fluid
• Tow rope
• Jumper cables
• Fire extinguisher
• Warning light / road flares
• Wind-up flashlight
• Whistle
• Copy of your emergency plan and important documents

Check your car emergency items seasonally, replacing them with items suited to the current season and verifying expiry dates. Regular updates help ensure your car kit is safe and ready whenever you need it.

Knowing how to provide first aid and CPR can save a life while waiting for emergency responders.

• Take a certified course. Register for a first aid and CPR class through recognized providers such as the Peterborough Paramedics, the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, or other accredited community organizations.
• Cover key skills. Courses teach how to perform CPR, use an automated external defibrillator (AED), control bleeding, treat burns, recognize the signs of stroke or heart attack, and manage choking.
• Keep skills fresh. Renew your certification every three years (or as recommended) and review your course materials regularly.
• Know your equipment. Familiarize yourself with the location of AEDs in workplaces, schools, and community centres across Peterborough.

Basic first aid knowledge helps you assist family, friends, and neighbours during an emergency, before professional help arrives.

Some people in our community may face extra challenges during an emergency or while recovering afterward. In Peterborough, that could include people who are:

• Socially isolated or living alone 
• Newcomers to Canada or to Peterborough
• Language learners with limited English or French
• Living with a physical or mental health condition
• Living with a disability or mobility limitation
• Caring for young children or dependents
• Experiencing financial hardship
• Older adults or seniors

Checking on family, friends, and neighbours, and helping them prepare can make a big difference.

How you can help

• Create a support system. Set up a phone tree, text group, or group chat to check on each other before, during, and after an emergency.
• Help with planning tools. Work with them to fill out an emergency preparedness plan and keep it in an easy-to-find place, like on the fridge or near the phone.
• Share community resources. Make sure community leaders and neighbours know about local emergency programs and toolkits available from the City of Peterborough and Peterborough Public Health.

Questions to consider

• When helping someone create their plan, discuss:
• What would you do if essential services (power, phone lines, Meals on Wheels) stopped for a time?
• How long could you stay on your own if you had to shelter in place?
• If medical equipment stopped working in a power outage, what’s the backup plan?
• Do you have charged battery backups, and how long will they last?
• If phones stop working, who will check in on you?
• Where would you go if you needed to leave home, and who could help you evacuate?
• Who should you notify in an emergency?
• Would you need assistance, and can you ask family, friends, or neighbours for help?
• What would you do with pets, if you have them?

Tip: Encourage everyone you assist to sign up for City of Peterborough emergency notifications on Alertable and to keep important phone numbers handy.

Helping others prepare strengthens the safety and resilience of the whole community.