Emergency Preparedness For Your Household

Each year, thousands of people face emergency situations that could change their lives forever. Don’t be caught off-guard. Take the time to create a Home Emergency Plan and assemble your Emergency Kit and one Grab-and-Go Bag for each member of your household.

1. Make a Plan

An emergency plan is your playbook in the event of an emergency. Knowing that you have taken time to consider what you might need, where to go, and who to contact for help can reduce anxiety while keeping you focused and safe.

Use Prepared BC Home Emergency Plan

During an emergency, you and your family/household could be on your own for an extended period of time. Emergency services may not be readily available, as increasing demands are placed on responders. Therefore, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you as they help those in most critical need. As well, access to phones, gas, water, sewer, and electrical services may be cut off. Learning how to be personally prepared is vital.

2. Build an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit should have everything you’ll need to be comfortable and safe at home for 3 to 7 days. Think of it like “camping at home”.

Prepared BC Emergency Kit Checklist

3. Make a Grab and Go Bag

• A grab-and-go bag is a small emergency kit that’s easy to take with you, in case you need to leave right away. It’s a good idea to make grab-and-go bags for your home, workplace and vehicle.

Prepared BC Grab-and-Go Checklist

4. Evacuation Alert vs. Evacuation Order

Evacuation Alert

This is the time to get prepared to leave your home on short notice. Get your grab-and-go bags ready (which should include several days of clothing, toiletries and medications), your emergency plan, copies of important documents and important mementos.

Listen to local emergency officials for further information on the situation.

Evacuation Order

Leave the area immediately. Follow the directions of local emergency officials and evacuate using the route(s) they’ve identified. Do not return home until you’ve been advised that the Evacuation Order has been rescinded. 

Evacuation Rescind

Once local officials determine the situation is currently safe, the evacuation will be rescinded and you can return home. Continue to stay tuned for other possible evacuation alerts or orders.

What is a Declaration of State of Local Emergency?

Declaring a state of local emergency enables local authorities in the Province of British Columbia to exercise the emergency powers listed in the Emergency Program Act. The emergency powers are utilized by the local authority to order the evacuation of residents from their homes, prohibit travel and enter private property when an emergency threatens lives, property, or the environment within the local authority’s jurisdiction.