Canadian 72-Hour Emergency Preparedness Guide

Why Every Household Should Be Ready Before an Emergency

Emergencies rarely arrive with convenient timing.

Power outages, wildfires, floods, winter storms, earthquakes, and infrastructure disruptions can affect Canadian households with little warning. Emergency management agencies across Canada commonly recommend maintaining enough supplies to remain self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

The first three days of an emergency are often the most challenging. Transportation networks may be disrupted, stores may be closed, and emergency responders may be focused on higher-priority situations.

A well-prepared household can remain safer, more comfortable, and more resilient during this critical period.

Water: Your First Priority

Water is the most important emergency supply.

A general guideline is:

• Minimum 2–3 litres per person per day
• Additional water for cooking and hygiene
• Extra supplies for pets

For a family of four, a 72-hour emergency reserve may require more than 30 litres of water.

Emergency Food Essentials

Food should be:

• Shelf-stable
• Easy to prepare
• Calorie-dense
• Familiar to your household

Examples include:

• Emergency food bars
• Canned foods
• Nut butters
• Crackers
• Oatmeal
• Shelf-stable snacks

A combination of ready-to-eat foods and longer-term storage foods provides the greatest flexibility.

Lighting and Power

Power outages are among the most common Canadian emergencies.

Consider:

• Flashlights
• Spare batteries
• Portable power banks
• Solar charging options
• Emergency radios

Avoid relying solely on mobile phones during extended outages.

First Aid and Medications

Every emergency kit should include:

• First aid supplies
• Prescription medications
• Pain relievers
• Personal medical items
• Emergency contact information

Review and replace expired items regularly.

Communication Planning

Families should establish:

• Emergency contact lists
• Meeting locations
• Out-of-town contacts
• Backup charging solutions

Communication failures can occur even when physical infrastructure remains intact.

Grab-and-Go Preparedness

For wildfire-prone regions and evacuation scenarios, maintain a portable emergency kit that can be loaded quickly into a vehicle.

Include:

• Food
• Water
• Documents
• Clothing
• Medication
• Personal essentials

Preparedness Is About Resilience

Preparedness is not about fear.

It is about reducing uncertainty and improving household resilience.

The best time to build a 72-hour emergency kit is before an emergency occurs.

Because when everyone suddenly needs supplies at the same time, preparedness becomes much more difficult.