Is Your Home Prepared for an Emergency?

Rod Charles

Two things really struck me about the great blackout of 2003.

First, we're really dependent on everything working perfectly all the time. And when they don't, even for inconvenient non-emergencies like garbage strikes or a sewer repair, we don't handle it very well.

The second thing that struck me was how simply taking time to plan made all the difference.

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Crackers or grilled pork chops? It's up to you

I remember my mother going through the fridge, concerned that food would spoil if the situation continued for long. We weren't struggling by any stretch - we were only without power for a day or so - but we sure weren't comfortable as we ate crackers and bread coated with butter and jam for dinner that evening.

Next door however, my neighbour was having a mini-jamboree. The food in his fridge wouldn't spoil because his barbecue was hissing to the sweet smell of grilled pork chops. His family was laughing and playing together in candlelight. Their battery-energized radio blared music as their children played games at their feet. In this temporary new world order, my neighbour was king.

And that's what made the difference between my discomfort and his jamboree - my buttered bread and his grilled pork chops - he had a barbecue and I didn't. Or to be more accurate and honest, he was prepared and I wasn't.

I can tell you one thing - after that experience I had my emergency preparedness plan in place, with bells and whistles. Not to mention a really sweet barbecue with a full tank of gas.

Disaster can strike at anytime

We aren't immune to disasters. From Hurricane Katrina in Louisana, to the deadly Tsunami in Japan, we have been reminded again and again that emergencies can happen at any time.

We get our fair share of disasters in Canada too, man-made and natural. Consider:

You would think we would be better prepared. But this isn't always the case. Many Canadians who've been lucky enough to not have to deal with an emergency live their lives oblivious to the fact that it can happen.

Could you last three days?

According to Canada's Emergency Preparedness site, your family should be able to last at least 72 hours without the help of outside assistance. If you had to survive without running water, electricity, heat, or all the above for three days, could you do it?

If there's an industrial or forest fire in or near your area, do you have a plan that would allow you collect your family and evacuate within an hour if you were ordered to?

Remember, it's your responsibility to ensure the safety of your family and home. If you don't have a plan to deal with emergencies, check out our gallery and learn how you can become be prepared.

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