Making your emergency kits
An emergency kit is a box or bag that holds enough food, water, medication, and emergency supplies to cope after a disaster.
We recommend 4 types of emergency kits for individuals and families:
- 72-hour emergency kit
- Food and water emergency kit
- Vehicle emergency kit
- Pet and service animal emergency kit
A 72-hour emergency kit holds supplies to support you and your household members for up to 3 days.
Put the kit in a backpack or duffel bag in case you need to evacuate suddenly.
Pack these supplies into your 72-hour emergency kit:
- Emergency contact information for friends and family, insurance providers, local utilities, and emergency services
- A flashlight and batteries (in case of a power outage)
- A battery-powered radio or a crank radio (to listen to news bulletins)
- Spare batteries
- A first-aid kit and medication
- Candles and matches or a lighter
- Plastic garbage bags and Duct Tape for covering windows and doors
- Extra car keys and cash (including coins and telephone cards)
- A whistle (in case you need to attract someone’s attention)
Personal items
- ID for each member of your household (for example, passports and birth certificates)
- One change of clothes and shoes per person
- One blanket or sleeping bag per person
- Toilet paper
- Playing cards or a boardgame
A food and water emergency kit holds enough food and water for you and your household members for up to 3 days.
Pack all of these items into your food and water emergency kit.
Drinking water
Include at least 4 litres of drinking water per person, per day.
Ready-to-eat foods
Pack non-refrigerated, ready-to-eat foods that members in your household enjoy, such as:
- Canned meat, poultry, and fish.
- Canned soups, stews, and baked beans.
- Condiments such as salt, pepper, and sugar.
- Crackers, biscuits, and power bars.
- Fruits and vegetables.
- Instant coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
- Packaged pasta.
- Spreads such as honey and peanut butter.
Kitchen items
Pack kitchen items such as:
- A manual can opener.
- A bottle opener.
- Knives, forks, and spoons.
- Disposable cups and plates.
- Fuel stove and fuel (follow the manufacturer's instructions and never use a barbecue or camp stove indoors).
Unexpected mechanical breakdowns or extreme weather can leave you stranded on the side of the road. A vehicle emergency kit holds supplies to support you and your passengers until help arrives.
Prepare for emergencies on the road by getting regular maintenance checks, keeping your gas tank at least half-full, and storing your vehicle emergency kit where it’s easy to reach.
Pack all of these items into your vehicle emergency kit:
- a 5 lb ABC multipurpose dry chemical fire extinguisher
- a blanket or sleeping bag
- a first aid kit (with instructions)
- a shovel
- a tire repair kit
- booster cables
- candles and waterproof matches
- cash
- extra clothing
- flares and a flashlight (with spare batteries and bulbs) or glow sticks
- food and water (avoid storing food and water in your car; instead bring enough with you for each trip)
- maps
- reflective safety materials
Seasonal items for your vehicle emergency kit
When the seasons change, change the items in your vehicle emergency kit.
Also monitor your local weather and road conditions and adjust your travel plans as needed.
For winter, include:
- Sand, salt, or cat litter.
- A shovel and scraper.
- Spare jackets, gloves, hats, scarves, and boots.
For spring and fall, include:
- Gloves and hats.
- Rain wear and boots.
- An umbrella.
For summer, include:
- A hat.
- Sunscreen.
A pet or service animal emergency kit holds supplies to support your pet or service animal for 72 hours.
Due to health regulations, pets can’t stay at evacuation shelters in Peel.
Plan ahead by knowing which hotels, motels, veterinarians, or kennels will accept your pet in an emergency.
While service animals can stay in evacuation shelters in most situations, they may become confused or disoriented and not work as trained. Be sure to have your service animal’s licence to show at the evacuation shelter.
Pack these items into your pet’s or service animal’s 72-hour pet emergency kit:
- a 72-hour supply of pet food and water
- a blanket and bowls
- a can opener
- a leash, pet carrier, and muzzle (if needed)
- a copy of your pet’s licence and microchip information
- pet toys
- photo of your pet
- contact information for kennels, pet-friendly hotels, relatives, and your veterinarian
- your pet’s medications and medical records
- your pet’s ID tag with your contact information
- your service animal licence for access to an evacuation centre