Both your home and your car should be equipped with an emergency survival kit.
Special situations that may require additional thought and preparations are thoroughly reviewed in the Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs, including what others should keep in mind to help those with limited mobility, hearing, vision, non-visible disabilities, and seniors with special needs. It is available in various languages.
Special Needs
For people with special needs, a few additional preparations are recommended.
- Organize a buddy system, have someone call you to make sure you are all right
- Include special needs in your kit (e.g. extra medication, extra oxygen tank)
- Have all information on you. You may not be able to explain your condition but people will need to know in order to take care of you properly.
- Use a medic alert bracelet if you have a special condition.
- Plan with your doctor/health care provider as to what you should do in case of an evacuation.
Pets
If you have a pet at home, here are a few tips on how to prepare:
- Pets are not allowed in shelters, therefore you need to have a special plan for them.
- You may want to find a veterinarian or boarding facility that will take your pet in an emergency. Or maybe you have a friend or a family member that can take your pet for a while.
- Make sure you have their ID, vaccination, and a recent photo in case they are lost.
- If you have no other alternative, prepare a pen at home with 72 hours supplies of food and water.
Apartments and High-rise Buildings
Evacuation from an apartment or high-rise building may not be as simple as from a house. The following simple tools may make a major difference if an emergency situation occurs and you cannot get out.
- Towel: wet and place at base of door to prevent smoke from coming in the room
- Duct Tape: over door and vent openings also to prevent smoke from entering
- Foil wrap: to cover vent openings, for the same purpose
- Whistle: to signal for help
- Flashlight: to see where you are going in case of a power failure and to signal for help from the window at night
- Bright-coloured cloth: to hang out of a window or a balcony to identify your location
- Ink marker: to write messages on cloth or on windows
- Cotton bed sheet: to make a tent by wetting it and staying near a window when the smoke is heavy
- Wash cloth: wet, to place over mouth and nose to aid breathing when there is smoke
- Fire safety plan: have a copy of the building’s emergency procedures to know what to expect from the landlord
- Plastic pail with lid: used for storing emergency equipment and to fill with water during a fire
