Preparing for an Emergency

There is never a good time for an emergency, so it’s important to be prepared. You may be required to take shelter in your home or workplace and be without heat, electricity, or water for a few hours to days. Being prepared for an emergency can help reduce some stress during this time.

Before an emergency

Learn how to prepare yourself and your family in the case of an emergency. There are three important steps to follow to be prepared.

Make a plan
Build a kit
Stay informed

1. Make a plan

It’s important to have plans for different types of emergencies, such as:

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

Make emergency plans to know what to do before, during, and after an emergency. Hold a meeting so that every member of the home is familiar with your plans.

Learn how to make an emergency preparedness plan.

2. Build a kit

In an emergency, you will need some basic supplies. Your kit should have everything you need to care for yourself and your family for at least 72 hours (3 days). Keep your kit in a backpack or suitcase with wheels in an accessible location, such as a front hall closet. Ensure everyone in your household knows where the emergency kit is located.

Basic Kit Items

These basic supplies are essential for an emergency kit:

Water (at least 4 litres per person, per day, including small bottles that can be carried)
Non-perishable food. Ensure you have enough for every family member for three days. Replace and check expiration dates once a year on unused kits
Flashlight and extra batteries or a crank flashlight. Replace and check batteries once a year
Battery or crank-operated radio with extra batteries
First aid kit
Extra keys to home and vehicles
Cash
Personal hygiene items such as hand sanitizer, toothbrushes, toilet paper and feminine hygiene products
Change of clothing and footwear, seasonally appropriate
Lightweight or mylar blankets
Important documents in a waterproof folder, such as photo ID, passports, insurance policies, and contact information
Prescription medication (enough for 72 hours), and assistive devices such as glasses, hearing aids, etc.
If applicable, baby formula and diapers
Whistle to attract attention
Cellphone, charger and portable battery bank
Garbage bags

Kits can be purchased from many hardware stores or The Red Cross, and then customized to fit your family's needs.

Additional Items to Consider

Where possible, we recommend expanding your basic emergency kit to include the following:

An additional 2 litres of water per person, for cooking/cleaning, etc.
Sleeping bags
Pet supplies: food, toys, water bowl, medication, vaccination records, etc.
Knives and basic tools, or a multi-purpose tool
Playing cards, puzzle books, or other items to pass the time
Household chlorine bleach or water purifying tablets. Ensure water is safe to drink before you do so
Local map
Select memorabilia, keepsakes, or heirlooms in a waterproof container
Compass or satellite GPS

Storing all of these items can be difficult or space-consuming, so ensure your essentials for evacuating are easily accessible. Additional items can be stored in a separate location for when you need to shelter in place.

Car Emergency Kit

Prepare a small emergency kit for your car that includes:

Blanket
Snow brush, ice scraper, and shovel
Booster cables, and/or battery starter/charger
Sand, salt, cat litter (non-clumping) or traction mats for ice.
First aid kit
Battery or crank-operated radio and flashlight
Spare warm clothing, including hats, mitts, scarf, and boots
Fire extinguisher
Bottled water and non-perishable snacks such as energy bars
Emergency flares and warning lights
Tow rope, tire iron, and spare tire
Multi-purpose vehicle emergency tool with window-breaker
Road maps and emergency contacts (including roadside assistance)
Car charger or power bank for cell phone (ensure it’s regularly charged)
Spare fuel container

For Individuals with Disabilities, Older Adults or Special Needs

It’s important to consider your family’s unique needs for emergency situations. Consider the following items and if they should be included in your kit:

Prescription medication and all necessary supplies. For example, a person with diabetes may need insulin, a glucometer, alcohol wipes, etc.
Mobility devices such as a wheelchair, walker, cane, or crutches Ensure you have any necessary accessories to help with these devices, such as a tire patch kit or tire inflator
Extra batteries for any medical or assistive devices. Replace these annually
A list of styles and serial numbers for medical devices
Medic alert bracelet, or medical information for any disabilities or health-related concerns that can be provided to emergency services
Non-prescription medications for your first-aid kit, such as antihistamine or allergy medication, NSAIDs, and so on. It’s important to speak with your doctor to know what additional medication you may need in an emergency
For hearing impairments, consider including extra writing pads and pencils for communication, and pre-printed key phrases you would use during an emergency

For more information see Ontario’s emergency preparedness guide for people with special needs.

Pet Emergency Kit

If you have pets, it’s important to have sufficient supplies for them in addition to items in your basic kit. Items should include:

Enough food and water for 72 hours. Dried food is best, but if using canned food, buy cans with peel-open lids or have a manual can opener
Food and water bowls
Litter, litter box, waste bags, scoop
Leashes, harness, muzzle (if required), carrier or crate
Identification, rabies tag, veterinary records
Any medication your pet requires
Clear photos, taken from multiple angles, in case you are separated from your pet
Blankets and towels, and favourite toy
Service animal identification if applicable
Information on your pet’s feeding schedule, behavioural/medical concerns, and special instructions if your pet needs to be boarded
Vaccination records

3. Stay informed

During an emergency, tune in to local media via radio or social media to receive updates. Including a portable, battery-operated radio or crank radio and USB power bank for your cellphone will help keep you informed and connected. It’s important to conserve your cellphone battery during these times.

Depending on the type of emergency, information may come from different authorities or avenues. See our Stay Informed page.

During an emergency

In an emergency, first responders will be working to ensure the safety of residents and reduce the damage caused by the event. This is often a coordinated effort between the municipality, utility providers, provincial ministries or authorities, and community partners.

Staying informed and following the proper safety precautions during and after an emergency is critical. This helps to keep you safe and to ensure emergency resources such as paramedics and fire are allocated efficiently. Learn what to do during and after an emergency.

What to do during an emergency

When an emergency occurs, you should:

Follow your emergency plan
Listen to the radio, television, and local authorities for information and follow their directions
Follow reliable social media sources such as County and Emergency Services accounts.
Ensure you are safe before assisting others. Contact friends and family to notify them of your whereabouts
Stay where you are until it is safe to do so, or you are instructed to evacuate from authorities

Stay informed

Depending on the type of emergency, information may come from different authorities or avenues. See our Stay Informed web page.

Follow emergency directives

During an emergency, you may be asked to stay inside (shelter in place) or evacuate.

Evacuations

For your protection, it may be necessary to evacuate an area impacted by an emergency. If you are asked to evacuate:

Follow the directions from emergency personnel
Turn off lights and appliances (except refrigerator or freezer)
Turn off or reduce your heat or air conditioning
Shut off utilities if officials tell you to (directives will be provided for each utility)
Close windows and lock your doors
Leave immediately and follow travel routes identified by authorities
When safe to do so, notify friends or relatives that you have left and where you are going

When evacuating, if it’s safe to do so, bring the following:

Emergency Kit and Emergency Plan
Wallet and personal identification for each family member
Cellphone, backup battery, and charger
Your pets, identification, and their supplies

If you are driving in emergency conditions:

Keep the radio on to hear important updates
Follow the routes specific by authorities. Do not take shortcuts as they could lead to a blocked or dangerous area
Watch for fallen power lines, debris, damaged roads or bridges, and dangling wires

If your car gets stuck or you must pull over, remain calm and stay in your car. Do the following:

Lock all doors, and open a window slightly on the sheltered side, away from the wind for fresh air
Turn on emergency flashing lights
Call 911 if necessary
If you are forced to pull over but are not in immediate danger, notify friends and family of your location and status
If someone other than a first responder approaches your vehicle, do not open the windows or unlock the doors
In cold weather, you can run the car engine for about 10 minutes every half-hour if the exhaust system is working well
Beware of exhaust fumes and check the exhaust pipe periodically to make sure it is not blocked with snow Remember, you cannot smell potentially fatal carbon monoxide fumes

Shelter-in-Place

Shelter in place is the practice of finding a safe location indoors (home, place of employment, automobile or other location) and staying there for the duration of an emergency or told to evacuate. You may be asked to shelter-in-place during an environmental hazard, severe weather event or an event that could harm the public.

When sheltering in place, ensure you notify friends and family of your location and confirm the location of your loved ones. If you are asked to shelter in place, there are ways you can protect your family and your property. You should have:

Your emergency kit and non-perishable food are ready and on hand
A personal alarm or whistle to draw attention to your whereabouts if you need help
A white cloth to hang up in a window and/or a balcony to identify your location if you need to signal for help
Ink marker to write messages on doors, windows or cloth – if you need to signal for help
Aluminum foil and tape to cover vent openings
Old or extra bedsheets in case you need to form a seal underneath doors or around windows

Depending on the type of emergency, you may have different safety precautions to take when sheltering in place. It’s important to pay attention to authorities and follow the directions given based on the type of emergency.

Certain emergencies may affect air quality, such as wildfires or hazardous spills. If you are asked to shelter in place during these situations, you need to:

Close all windows and doors
Place wet towels or bedsheets under doors to help prevent smoke or fumes from entering
Turn off fans, heating and air conditioning systems
Close the fireplace damper and do not use the clothes dryer
Cover your mouth and nose with a wet towel if you see or smell fumes or smoke
Tape around windows, air ducts and vents

It is important that you stay in the shelter until local authorities say it is safe to leave. Listen to the radio and monitor official social media channels for regular updates.

When to call 911

First responders will be focusing their efforts on helping those in need of immediate assistance. You should call for emergency help when:

You require the immediate response of police, fire and/or an ambulance
You have a life-threatening situation
You need to report a fire or other dangerous situation
A crime is in progress

After an emergency

Dealing with the aftermath of an emergency is difficult, especially if you are required to evacuate. Here are a few items to keep in mind when an emergency has ended:

Let family and friends know you are safe.

Check for blown fuses and look for short circuits in your home wiring and equipment – if you suspect a problem, call your utility company.

Report any emergency to the appropriate agency (such as police, fire, utility company, etc.)

Notify your insurance agent or broker if your property is damaged. Take immediate steps to protect your property from more damage.

Haldimand County Emergency Response Plan

Haldimand County has developed and implemented programs and plans to protect the community during an emergency. The plan outlines how the County and its emergency response agencies will coordinate themselves to respond to, and help Haldimand recover from a large-scale emergency.

This outlines roles, responsibilities, procedures and guidelines that will be followed to protect the health, safety, and well-being of Haldimand residents.

View the Emergency Response Plan (PDF)

Emergency resources

Knowing what to have before an emergency and knowing where to go for accurate information is important to stay safe during an emergency.

Be prepared

Follow these guides to be prepared in the case of an emergency:

Learn how Haldimand County prepares for an Emergency.

Insurance

You should regularly review your insurance policy to know if you have enough coverage and what damages will be covered in the case of an emergency.

For insurance purposes make sure you:

Have an accurate description of your home.
An inventory of your belongings.
Take photographs, record serial numbers, and keep copies of receipts to show the value of items.

If an emergency damages your home or property, take immediate steps to prevent more damage and contact your insurance company as soon as possible.

For free information on car and home insurance, call the Insurance Bureau of Canada’s consumer information line at 1-800-387-2880 or visit the Insurance Bureau of Canada.