Emergency Preparedness and Response

The first step to ensure you stay emergency-ready is to have a plan in place for you and your loved ones.

Learn how to make an emergency plan, create an emergency kit, and stay informed

If you or someone in your household has a disability or accessibility needs, build your emergency plan around those needs.

View Ontario's emergency preparedness guide for people with disabilities or accessibility needs

Every household should have an emergency kit ready. Your kit should cover your household's needs for at least 3 days after an emergency.

Essential items:

• non-perishable food
• water (4 litres per person, per day)
• backup water purification tablets
• manual can opener
• medication(s)
• toilet paper and other personal care items (soap, shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.)
• personal protective equipment (PPE) (masks, gloves, etc.)
• first aid kit
• flashlight
• battery or crank radio
• extra batteries 
• backup phone charger
• cash in small bills
• hand sanitizer
• candles and matches
• whistle
• garbage bags
• duct tape
• extra car and house keys
• important documents (ID, emergency plan, prescriptions, contact lists)

Depending on your household, you may also need:

• supplies for babies and small children (diapers, formula, bottles, baby food, medical records, etc.)
• supplies for pets (food, water, bowls, plastic bags, cat litter/pan, leash, harness, carrier, medications, medical records, etc.)
• prescription medication and medical equipment
• an extra pair of glasses or contacts
• comfort items, such as photos or sentimental belongings

Vehicle kit:

• blankets
• first aid kit
• extra clothing
• flashlight
• food that won't spoil
• bottled water
• emergency contact numbers
• shovel
• snow brush
• jumper cables
• spare tire

Evacuation kit:

• seasonal clothing, shoes, and accessories (hats, mittens, etc.)
• sleeping bags and/or blankets
• lightweight plates and utensils
• notepad and pens/pencils
• local map with safe meeting places marked
• small activities like games or cards

The Canadian Red Cross also sells pre-packaged emergency kits online.

Stay informed: check the City's website, Facebook and Instagram for updates, and monitor local news. Keep a battery or crank radio in your kit in case of a power outage. Ontario also uses Alert Ready, a national service for critical emergency alerts.

Our role: during a large-scale emergency, the City will activate our Emergency Response Plan, which outlines how the City mobilizes resources and coordinates departments and emergency services. We review our Emergency Operations Centre annually to stay ready to respond.

Shelter in place or evacuate: authorities will tell you which to do. You will not be asked to leave your home unless there is reason to believe you may be in danger.

If asked to shelter in place:

• stay indoors with your household and pets
• close all windows and doors
• turn off air conditioning
• block vents with foil and tape
• wait for further instructions from local radio, news or emergency services

If asked to evacuate:

• follow instructions from emergency personnel
• let someone know you've left and where you'll be
• turn off lights, appliances and heating or cooling, except your fridge and freezer
• lock your doors
• bring your evacuation kit, devices and chargers, clothing and toiletries, and supplies for children if needed

If it's safe to do so, bring your pets. Bring their emergency kit and a list of boarding facilities, vets and shelters that could take them in an emergency.

Power outages: unplug appliances except your fridge and freezer, turn heating and cooling to a minimum, and leave one indoor and one outdoor light on to signal when power returns. Never use a barbecue, propane heater or generator indoors, and never leave candles unattended.

Food safety during an outage: keep your fridge and freezer doors closed. A sealed fridge keeps food cold for 4 to 6 hours. A full freezer keeps food frozen for about 48 hours, or 24 hours if half full. Throw out perishable food kept above 4°C for more than 2 hours. When in doubt, throw it out.

• contact family and friends to let them know you're safe
• contact your insurance company right away
• arrange food, shelter and clothing, and ask family or friends for help if needed
• tell your employer or school about your situation, and cancel appointments as needed

Returning home: check for damaged utilities before turning anything back on.

• natural gas: if you smell gas, evacuate immediately, call 911, then call Enbridge Gas at 1-877-691-1246 from a safe distance. Do not use switches, appliances, lighters or matches near a leak
• electrical: look for frayed wires, sparks or the smell of hot insulation. Do not use switches or appliances. Turn off power at your main panel
• water: check for leaks and shut off water at the main valve if needed

Do not turn your gas, electricity or water back on until your utility provider confirms it's safe.

Getting support: if you're struggling after a traumatic event, the Canadian Red Cross offers a Guidebook for Wellbeing in Recovery and Coping with Crisis resources. You can also see the provincial list of mental health supports or contact CMHA Elgin Branch.

Extreme heat: heat stress can cause dizziness, nausea, headache and, in severe cases, heat stroke. Watch for symptoms and move to a cool place if you feel unwell. Southwestern Public Health issues heat warnings when daytime temperatures reach 31°C or higher for 2 or more days. During a heat warning, we may open a cooling space at the Joe Thornton Community Centre (75 Caso Crossing, 519-633-7112). The INN (10 Princess Avenue, 519-637-9898) and Ignite Youth Centre (745 Talbot Street, 519-631-8820) also offer cooling spaces.

Extreme cold: unprotected skin can freeze in under 30 minutes at -15°C. Watch for frostbite and hypothermia symptoms, and dress in layers. Southwestern Public Health issues cold alerts at -15°C, or -20°C with wind chill. We open a warming space at the Joe Thornton Community Centre during cold alerts, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. The INN offers 24-hour overnight shelter.

Tornado: know the difference between a tornado watch (conditions are favourable) and a tornado warning (a tornado has been reported or is imminent). Take shelter in the lowest, most central room of your home, away from windows. If outdoors, lie flat in a low area and cover your head. Never shelter under an overpass.

Freezing rain and ice storms: watch for falling branches and downed power lines, and avoid driving until roads are treated.

Snowstorms and blizzards: stay indoors if possible. If your vehicle gets stuck, stay inside, crack a window for fresh air, and run your engine for about 10 minutes every half hour if the exhaust isn't blocked.

Fire or explosion: install smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, and practice your escape plan. If there's a fire, sound the alarm, evacuate immediately, and call 911. If you can't leave, stay low, cover your nose and mouth, and signal for help from a window.

Hazardous material spills: do not attempt cleanup if you don't know the material or lack protective equipment. Evacuate the area and call 911 for large spills. For chemical releases, follow instructions from emergency responders, who may direct you to shelter in place or evacuate.

Windstorms: seek shelter indoors, away from windows and large open spans like gymnasiums, when winds reach 60 to 65 km/h or gust above 90 km/h.

Human health emergencies: stock non-perishable food and medication for at least 2 weeks, and make a plan for dependents and pets in case you become ill. Wash your hands often, cover coughs and sneezes, and stay home if you're sick.

Drinking water advisories: Southwestern Public Health issues advisories when water testing shows a problem. A boil water advisory means bacteria may be present, and boiling kills it. A "do not drink" advisory means chemical contamination that boiling cannot fix. A "do not use" advisory means the water is unsafe for any use, including skin contact.