Develop your own emergency plan.
At least once a year, have a meeting with family members or housemates to design and/or update a plan for how each person will respond during an emergency.
Draw a floor plan of your home, showing the location of exits (windows and doors), utility shut offs, first aid kits, emergency supplies, tools, clothing, etc. Make sure that each person is familiar with the plan.
Become familiar with the disaster policies and plans at your children’s schools and your spouse’s or partner(s) workplace.
Make/update a list of key addresses and phone numbers and ensure that each family member has a copy. Remember to caution everyone that the phone should only be used during an emergency if there is a pressing need to contact the police, the fire department, emergency medical personnel, utility companies, children’s schools, etc.
Pick two meeting places:
One meeting place should be near your home or business in case of a local sudden emergency, like a fire.
A second meeting place should be chosen so that people will meet if they can not return to your home or business.
Arrange for a contact that lives out of the Provost area. Family members can phone the contact and leave or receive messages. This will help keep everyone aware of the situation.
Other preparedness tips:
Have at least a three-day supply of food and water on hand. Choose ready-to-eat foods that your family likes, and choose food that doesn’t need refrigeration.
Water – plan to have on hand at least four litres per person per day, two litres for drinking and two for food preparation, hygiene and dish washing.
Food – canned food: soups, stews, baked beans, pasta, meat, poultry, fish, vegetables, fruits; or dry goods: crackers and biscuits; honey, peanut butter, syrup, jam, salt & pepper, sugar, instant coffee, tea. Replace canned food and dry goods once a year.
Equipment – knives, forks, spoons; disposable cups and plates; manual can opener, bottle opener; fuel stove and fuel (follow manufacturer’s instructions, and don’t use a barbeque indoors); waterproof matches and plastic garbage bags.
