Building an emergency kit: a small investment with a big reward

You’ve already packed backpacks with supplies for the school year, but have you packed an emergency kit to help get you through emergencies?

In situations like floods, evacuations and winter storms, you should be able to care for members of your household, including pets, for at least three days. This helps first responders focus on people who are hurt or need immediate help before expanding their support to the community.

A properly-stocked emergency kit ensures you have food and water, and any necessary supplies to get through the early days of an emergency. And it will be ready at a moment’s notice, taking some stress out of a stressful situation.

What to pack in your emergency kit

Your emergency kit should include basic supplies – food, water, important documents, first aid kit, clothing and more – but it should be customized to you and your family’s needs.

If you have an infant, consider adding diapers and formula (if applicable). If you have medical needs, you may want to pack your medications, records of your prescriptions and essential medical equipment. If you have pets, consider packing a harness and leash, extra food and water and comfort items.

Basic supplies to include:

  • Water (four litres per person per day)
  • Food that won’t spoil such as canned food, pasta, energy bars and dried food
    • If packing canned food, make sure to pack a manual can opener
  • Medical supplies such as over-the-counter and prescription medications, back-up pair of glasses, extra contact lenses and solution, and essential medical equipment
  • Important documents such as identification, birth certificates, health care cards, passports, prescription medication records, insurance policy, and banking information
  • First aid kit
  • Change of clothing and shoes for each household member (seasonally appropriate)
  • Toiletries and personal hygiene items
  • Mobile phone charger(s)
  • Activities such as books, puzzles, cards and small toys
  • Sleeping bags or warm blankets
  • Cleaning supplies such as wipes, masks, gloves, trash bags, hand sanitizer and toilet paper
  • Wind-up or battery-powered flashlight with extra batteries
  • Wind-up or battery-powered radio with extra batteries
  • Candles and waterproof matches or lighter

Printable resources

SREMP is a partnership between Sturgeon County, Morinville, Gibbons, Redwater, Bon Accord and Legal. These municipalities work together to coordinate emergency preparedness, response and recovery from disasters.