Household emergency plans identify escape routes from each room in your home as well as your neighbourhood. They identify meeting places for household members, and include plans for children who may be at school or in childcare, plans for any special needs of household members, and plans for pets. They also include an emergency contact list.
Each household member should have a copy of your household emergency plan.
You should also keep a copy of your emergency plan with your emergency kit and in an easy-to-find location. Keep emergency contact numbers in your cell phone up to date. Practice your plan twice each year – it could save your life.
Emergency Plan Template
Use Public Safety Canada’s template to create your unique household emergency plan. This resource walks you through the process of creating your plan, and it only takes 20 minutes!
Related Links
- Emergency Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs
- Helping Children During Emergencies
- Emergency Preparedness Toolkit for Seniors
- Emergency Preparedness for Your Pets
- Emergency Preparedness for Farm Animals and Livestock
Emergency Preparedness for Rural Living
Rural residents face unique challenges in emergency situations; consider developing a rural emergency plan to prepare for fires or hazardous material spills.
Farm Animals and Livestock
- Build a map. Outline the buildings on the property and note key services (power and water sources), access points, equipment locations and dangerous chemical storage. Include a map in each building.
- Set a meeting place or muster point in case an evacuation is ordered. Make sure everyone knows the location(s) and ensure there is feed, water and shelter for any animals you can evacuate. Consider seasonal weather impacts.
- Create safe transportation methods. If possible, practice loading and transporting your animals.
- Create an emergency contact list that includes neighbours, animal handlers/transporters, veterinarians and feed suppliers. Post this list in each building.
- Register your livestock and poultry with Alberta Agriculture’s Traceability program to help local authorities protect your animals during an emergency.