Severe weather has effected many people across the province as of late, and has led the Canadian Red Cross to remind people to have emergency kits ready to go.
The Canadian Red Cross says emergency kits should be personalized to each household and have enough supplies to last 72 hours.
The Canadian Red Cross has a few suggestions for an emergency kit, including:
- water and food that will not spoil, along with a manual can opener
- a flashlight and extra batteries
- an extra cellphone charger or battery pack
- a battery‑operated or crank radio
- extra eyeglasses or contact lenses, baby supplies (diapers, formula), hearing aids and diabetes supplies
- essential medications (with copies of prescriptions)
- personal hygiene items
- important family documents, such as identification and insurance papers
- a copy of your emergency plan
- extra keys for your house and vehicle
- a first aid kit
- cash
- pet food and supplies, if applicable
Canadian Red Cross spokesperson Mark Holtzer said there are many emergencies where kits are needed, ranging from natural disasters to man made disasters.
“We recommend everyone. We don’t know when disasters are going to happen, where, how long they might impact people, so we wanna make sure that everyone is as prepared as possible. If you have not taken any steps then now is the time”
Holtzer recommended other steps in case of an emergency, such as having a plan and understanding what hazards are in your area. More information can be found on the Canadian Red Cross website.
