Before
What can you do before an emergency or disaster occurs?
Emergencies and disasters can strike at anytime, anywhere, including in your community. Local authorities and emergency services will react as quickly as they can, but it is up to you, the individual, to do your part to ensure you are prepared.
To help reduce any panic or stress should an emergency or disaster occur, follow these three steps:
Stay Informed
- Understand the types of hazards that are more likely to occur in your area, and what you should do in response to each type of hazard.
- Follow government social media accounts and credible news sources for accurate information.
Reduce Your Risks
Ensure that your home is prepared for natural disasters by going through a checklist and learn about projects to enhance resiliency.
Emergency Plan
Emergencies often happen when we do not expect them and can occur when families are not together. What should you do if your family is across town, or your kids are at school and phone lines or neighbourhoods are inaccessible?
Having a family emergency plan will save you time and make real life situations less stressful. To help you get your plan started, Manitoba EMO has designed a template that walks you through the creation of your own unique emergency plan that you can print and store with your Emergency Kits.
Create a Home Emergency Plan
When preparing and practicing your emergency plan, consider the following:
- Assess the potential risks and hazards in your area, such as natural disasters, (e.g., floods or wildfires) or human caused incidents (e.g., power outages or industrial accidents). Tailor your plan to address the specific risks relevant to your location.
- Gather your family to discuss and assign roles and responsibilities.
- Set up a system for staying in touch during emergencies and consider your options in the event of a power or network outage. Include central contacts that reside inside and outside of your neighbourhood.
- Map out and practice primary and alternative routes in the event you need to evacuate your home or neighborhood.
- Review and practice your emergency plan regularly.
- Address unique needs of children, pets, and others with special needs in your planning.
- Store photocopies of your wallet contents (e.g., drivers license or identification card), insurance papers and contact lists both digitally and in print somewhere safe. See Important Documents for a complete list.
- Build a support system with your neighbors for shared emergency preparedness.
- Familiarize yourself with local emergency services and resources for collective preparedness and response efforts.
Home Emergency Supplies
All households should have at least 14 days of emergency supplies on hand in the event you are unable to leave your home. It is important to note that you can build these kits slowly throughout the year, and as you can afford them. Review this list every six months and replace any items that have been used or have expired.
- Water: 4 litres per person per day for drinking, cooking, washing, etc.
- Non-perishable food: Consider including food you enjoy that can be prepared without the use of electricity (e.g., granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, protein bars for children and adults, or formula and baby food for babies).
- Manual can opener.
- ABC Fire extinguisher.
- Small fuel-operated stove or barbeque and extra fuel (gas/propane) (to be used outdoors).
- Comprehensive first aid kit.
- Personal hygiene items for everyone in your household (e.g., toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, feminine products, deodorant, hair comb, chap stick, non-medical mask, and resealable plastic bag).
- Mobile device back up batteries and charging blocks with extra cables.
- Physical and digital copies of important documents.
- Cash: Up to $50 a person in small bills.
- Toilet paper, garbage bags with ties, and baby wipes.
- Candles and matches.
- Water purification straws or sanitation tablets.
- Back-up power supply (e.g., generator, wind, solar, natural gas, propane, gas, diesel, battery)
- Emergency Response Information Kit (ERIK)
- **Optional battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight with extra batteries (if you do not have a smart phone)
- **Optional battery-powered or hand-crank radio (if you do not have a smart phone) If you have a smart phone ensure you have an app that includes the ability to listen to local radio stations.
If you already have these items in your home, the key is to make sure they are organized and easy to find. Would you be able to find your flashlight in the dark? Ensure everyone in your household is aware of where these items are located.
Emergency Go Kits
In the event you need to leave your home quickly due to an emergency or disaster, all members of your household should have Emergency Go Kits stored in an easily accessible location in your home. Your Emergency Go Kit should contain essential items to sustain you and your family for up to 24 hours. Review the items in your kits every six months and replace any items that have been used or have expired.
- Water: 1 litre per person.
- Small non-perishable food: consider including food you enjoy (e.g., granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, or protein bars).
- Disposable utensils, plates/bowls, and paper towels.
- Manual can opener.
- Personal hygiene items (e.g., toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, feminine products, deodorant, hair comb, chap stick, non-medical mask, or resealable plastic bag).
- Toilet paper, garbage bags with ties and baby wipes.
- Extra pair of glasses or contacts with a case and solution.
- Complete change of clothing per person appropriate for the season (rotate seasonal clothing every 6 months).
- Mobile device back up batteries and charging blocks with extra cables.
- Multi-tool (hammer, screwdriver, pliers, knife, saw).
- Water purification straws or sanitation tablets.
- Physical and digital copies of important documents.
- Cash: up to $50 a person in small bills.
- Entertainment (e.g., tablet or smart phone with headset, activity books, or other items to pass the time).
- Comprehensive first aid kit.
- Emergency Response Information Kit (ERIK)
- Prescription medication and over the counter medications (have a reserve plan).
- **Optional battery-powered or hand-crank flashlight with extra batteries (if you do not have a smart phone).
- **Optional battery-powered or hand-crank radio (if you do not have a smart phone). If you have a smart phone ensure you have an app that includes the ability to listen to local radio stations.
Other types of Emergency Go Kits
Remember to prepare Emergency Go Kits for others in your family that have different needs. It is recommended you create Emergency Go Kits for each child, pet, and anyone in your family with additional needs.
Emergency Go Kits for Children
An Emergency Go Kit for babies and children should contain essential items to sustain and entertain your baby or child during a potentially stressful situation. Review the items in your kit every six months and replace any items that have been used or have expired.
Emergency Go Kits for Children
- Water: 1 litre per child.
- Small non-perishable food items appropriate for toddlers/children (e.g., granola bars, dried fruit, dried cereal) and babies (e.g., breastfeeding aides, formula, bottles, baby food).
- Personal hygiene items: (e.g., toothbrush, toothpaste, baby wipes, diapers, diaper cream, ointments, hand sanitizer, hairbrush or comb, garbage bags and ties, resealable plastic bag).
- Complete change of clothing per child appropriate for the season (rotate seasonal clothing every six months).
- Entertainment for kids (e.g., tablets, activity books, crayons, or other items to pass the time).
- Mobile device back up batteries and charging blocks with extra cables.
- Medications and ointments.
Emergency Go Kits for Pets
An Emergency Go Kit for babies and children should contain essential items to sustain and entertain your baby or child during a potentially stressful situation. Review the items in your kit every six months and replace any items that have been used or have expired.
- Water: 1 litre per animal and a container.
- Leash and collar.
- Food and treats for 24 hours.
- Animal waste bags.
- Baby wipes.
- Cat litter and container.
- Toy (ball), stuffy.
- Medications.
Additional Considerations
Special diets and physical challenges require careful consideration when creating an Emergency Go Kit. You want to ensure you identify the unique needs of the individual. This could include daily medication, special dietary foods, power for medical devices, or service animal care.
- Water: 1 litre per person (more for special conditions).
- Small non-perishable food items. Consider special dietary needs such as diabetic, gluten free, lactose free, nut free, vegan, kosher, halal, and low sodium.
- Medications (have a reserve plan).
- Equipment for activities of daily living (e.g., walker, cane, wheelchair, oxygen, suction, dialysis equipment, glasses, hearing aids and extra batteries, magnifying glass, computer equipment, or software and power supplies).
Emergency Vehicle Kit
Special diets and physical challenges require careful consideration when creating an Emergency Go Kit. You want to ensure you identify the unique needs of the individual. This could include daily medication, special dietary foods, power for medical devices, or service animal care.
- Water: 1-4 litres
- Small non-perishable food items (e.g., granola bars, dried fruit, nuts, or protein bars)
- Physical map of your city/town or province
- Compass
- Manual can opener
- Toilet paper, garbage bags with ties, and baby wipes
- Sleeping bag or warm blanket (in a sealed container to protect against moisture and dust)
- Multi-tool (hammer, screwdriver, pliers, knife, saw)
- Ice scraper
- ABC Fire extinguisher
- Shovel
- Cat litter (to provide traction if your vehicle gets stuck in icy conditions)
- Candle and matches and/or glow sticks
- Leather gloves
- Jumper cables
- Tow strap
- Warning triangles
- Tarp
- Comprehensive first aid kit.
Important Documents
Ensure you can easily access your digital and physical copies of important documents during an emergency or disaster. Digital copies should be saved on a secure, password protected USB drive stored in your Emergency Go Kit, or on cloud storage. Physical copies should be in a waterproof, portable container or sealable bag placed in your Emergency Go Kit. Physical copies of important documents ensures you have access to critical information even if electronic devices fail or are inaccessible.
- Home Emergency Plan (includes emergency contacts, evacuation routes)
- Passports
- Birth certificates
- Driver's licences or other government IDs
- Marriage certificates
- Social Insurance Numbers
- Last will and testament
- Adoption papers and/or custody agreements
- All insurance documents (home, health, vehicle, property, life)
- Banking information (account numbers and contact information)
- Property deeds or land titles
- Medical information (Manitoba health cards, health insurance cards)
- Prescription details
- Pet microchip information, proof of ownership, and current photos
- Visa and immigration documents
- Current family photos
- Inventory of valuable household items (videos or photos)
- Photocopies of the front and back of all cards in your wallet
First Aid Kit
All households and Emergency Go Kits should contain a comprehensive first aid kit to be able to immediately treat minor injuries and illnesses during an emergency or disaster.
- Adhesive bandages (various sizes)
- Adhesive tape
- Allergy medication
- Antacid
- Antiseptic ointment
- Antiseptic wipes or antiseptic solution
- CPR pocket mask
- Disposable gloves
- Medical masks
- Non-prescription pain relievers
- Resealable waterproof storage bag
- Scissors
- Sterile gauze pads
- Sterile roller bandage
- Tweezers
- Other necessary medications
Emergency Response Information Kit (E.R.I.K.)
The Emergency Response Information Kit (E.R.I.K.) was developed in response to community concerns regarding the availability of adequate information in emergency situations. ERIK is ideal for seniors, chronically ill persons, those who live alone or who have caregivers, and others who have speech difficulties or communication barriers.
Your ERIK should include a health information form with your personal information, medical history, allergies, medication, as well as contact information and your health card numbers. Also consider adding a health care directive form and your organ and tissue donor card if applicable. Once your kit is completed, it should be placed on your fridge door where emergency crews are trained to look should there be an emergency in your home.
For more information on ERIK, visit the City of Winnipeg's webpage on ERIK, and connect with your health care provider or a Services to Seniors Resource Coordinator near you.
