HomeMy WebLinkAboutEmergency Preparedness - 26 Weeks to Family Emergency Preparedness.pdf26 Weeks to Family Emergency Preparedness
July 2013 Emergency Management BC Page | 1 Ministry of Justice EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS 26 Weeks to Family Emergency Prepardness A WEEK BY WEEK GUIDE Week 1. Get a large portable container
with a lid to use as an emergency kit. A plastic storage bin or garbage can works well, particularly one with wheels. Choose an accessible location for the container near an exit and
label the container. Make sure all family members know what it will be used for and where it is. (You may also want to pack items into individual wheeled carts, carry-alls or packs
to make them easier to carry by individual family members.) Week 2. Stock your kit with at least a three-day supply of water for every family member and don’t forget to include water
for pets. It is best to plan for four litres of water per person, per day—two for drinking and two for food preparation and hygiene. You might consider the addition of water purification
tablets. Week 3. Stock your kit with several varieties of packaged foods, canned meats and dried fruit. Include a manual can opener. If needed, include infant supplies including disposable
diapers, disposable bottles, formula, etc. Plan for at least a three-day supply of food for each family member. (Some agencies are now recommending stocking up to a one-week supply.)
Week 4. Arrange an out-of-area phone contact person, and keep this and other emergency phone numbers near each telephone. Teach family members these numbers. Week 5. Add food items
and supplies for pets to your kit.
July 2013 Emergency Management BC Page | 2 Week 6. Get a portable radio and extra batteries for your emergency kit. Week 7. Learn about hazards. Know the hazards in your community. Find
out if the area where you live is vulnerable to landslides, flooding, interface fires or other threats such as hazardous material spills. Also do a home hazard hunt to make your home
safer. Secure appliances and heavy furniture and move beds away from overhead objects like heavy mirrors and windows. Week 8. Prepare a first-aid kit that includes prescription medications,
eyeglasses, bandages, sterile gauze pads, tape, scissors, tweezers, antibiotic ointment, hydrogen peroxide and other items such as over-the-counter pain pills. Week 9. Give every family
member specific safety tasks to do in an emergency. For example, designate one person to be in charge of turning off electricity, one to collect the emergency container, one to track
down family members and make sure people with disabilities or special health needs are provided for. Make sure someone is also delegated to looking after any pets. Week 10. Identify
safe places in your home and on your property. Plan and practice earthquake “drop, cover, hold” or evacuation drills using different escape routes. Know that your community may set
up a reception centre for evacuees during an emergency. Week 11. Identify a family meeting place away from home but close to your regular spots (between work and home or school). Week
12. Add a flashlight and extra batteries, along with candles and waterproof matches to your kit. Week 13. Add some dried soups and other items such as peanut butter to your emergency
kit. Week 14. Check your insurance policies and make records of your possessions. Week 15. Stock your kit with both large and medium-sized plastic garbage bags (orange or yellow make
good visible signals). Large bags can also be used as ponchos, ground covers or blankets. Add plastic or paper dishes and cups as well. Week 16. Add a change of clothing for each family
member to your kit. Be sure to include warm clothing, heavy work gloves and sturdy shoes. Week 17. Add additional canned or freeze-dried
July 2013 Emergency Management BC Page | 3 food like stews, tuna fish, baked beans and vegetables to your kit. Week 18. Enroll a family member in a first-aid course. Pack HELP/OK signs
in your kit. Week 19. Assemble important documents like wills, insurance papers, medical records, credit card numbers, inventory of possessions, identification, etc. Make copies and
store originals in a fireproof/waterproof container that will be accessible if your home is damaged. Week 20. Add personal items such as toilet paper, handi-wipes, soap, detergent,
toothbrush, toothpaste, comb, sanitary supplies, etc. to your emergency kit. Week 21. Add evaporated, canned or powdered milk to your kit. Week 22. Get a large bucket with a tight-fitting
lid to use as a toilet, and put it with your emergency kit. Use the bucket to store other emergency tools like an axe, a folding shovel and rope. Week 23. Add sleeping bags or blankets
(foil blankets take up less space) and consider adding plastic emergency ponchos to your kit. Week 24. Add more canned, freeze-dried, or dehydrated food products to your kit until you
have at least a three-day supply for each family member. Week 25. Add a pocket knife, cutlery, a whistle and spare set of house and car keys as well as items such as books, toys and
cards as well as a family photo album to your kit. Week 26. Meet with neighbours to discuss emergency preparations and the possibility of sharing items such as generators. Go to the
EMBC website for more information on personal emergency preparedness. Now you and your family are personally prepared for most emergencies. Once your emergency kit is assembled and
your emergency plan is in place, don’t forget to rotate and replace items as they expire. And most importantly – practice your plan and update it as your family’s needs change. Go to
www.pep.bc.ca for more information.