There are three easy steps to ensure you and your family are well-equipped and resilient in times of human- or climate-related disasters:
Step 1: Know your area’s risk and/or hazards – assess your work and home area of their risks and hazards. Understand how high or low those risks. Also, keep this in mind for times you travel to areas that have different hazards and risks. For example: If you live in British Columbia, there are risks of earthquakes and tsunamis (location specific) and you travel to Manitoba, what are the common risks that occur in that province?
Step 2: Make a Plan – Practice the plan by knowing where your primary and secondary emergency exits are and use the stairs frequently so you are comfortable going up/down them. Locate all the alarm pull station and fire alarms in your building. Find a suitable meeting location for your family/neighbours to meet up if a fire alarm sound.
Step 3: Build a kit – Essentially, it is recommended for 72-hours. However, the timeframe you are away from home may be extended depending on the severity the disaster (ie: wildfires and flooding). Ensure you have THREE kits: shelter-in-place, “go” kit and “car” kit. Don’t forget to include your pets–they are FAMILY, as well!
Store all your legal documents in several locations, fireproof file cabinets as well as scanned and stored in a cloud space, so you can readily access it anywhere any time on your devices you take with you if evacuating. Check all expiry dates on medications and replenish them frequently into your kits.
Here is a website with further suggestions: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/yprprdnssgd/index-en.aspx
So, as you prepare this week for flood and fire season — May the “Force” be with you and your family!