Ready for Almost Anything

Key Emergency Preparedness Tips from Ontario’s Official Guides

When you find yourself stuck in a blackout or hunkered down in a high-rise, emergency preparedness in Ontario is your ultimate lifeline. Mother Nature can throw curveballs, and it's crucial to be ready. I've pulled practical advice from official guides and distilled it into this easy read. You can level up your readiness without wading through government PDFs.

This guide will help you build a rugged 72-hour emergency kit checklist and prioritize winter storm safety in Canada. The goal is to ensure you can survive on your own for at least three days. Whether you are assembling a power outage kit for Ontario or preparing for the next big freeze, staying calm and ready when the lights go out is key.

1. The 72-Hour Emergency Kit – Your Lifeline

Ontario recommends that you should be able to survive on your own for at least three days. Keep a kit at home, in the car, and at work.

Must-Haves:

• 4 litres of water per person per day

• Non-perishable food + manual can opener

• Flashlight/headlamp, glow sticks, extra batteries

• Crank or battery radio

• First-aid kit, medications, whistle

• Cash in small bills, copies of ID, extra keys

• Cell phone power bank

• Candles/matches (in a deep can for safety)

• Duct tape & garbage bags (they fix everything)

  
  

Seasonal Add-Ons:

• Winter: Extra blankets, warm clothing, hand/foot warmers

• Summer: Sunscreen, hats, extra water, spray mist bottle

  
  

2. Power Outages – The Silent Chaos-Maker

Power outages can create chaos. Here are some tips to navigate them safely:

• Stay 10 metres (one school-bus length) from any downed line — they can still be live days later.

• Never run generators, charcoal BBQs, or camping stoves indoors (carbon monoxide kills fast).

• Keep your fridge/freezer closed — a full freezer stays cold for 36–48 hours.

• If your place gets dangerously cold or hot and you can bug-out, do it. Take pets and people with you.

  
  

3. Winter Storms – Canada’s 1 Killer

Winter storms are serious business. More Canadians die from winter storms than from hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined.

• Dress in layers, wear waterproof boots, and cover your extremities. Check for frostbite (white/numb skin).

• Avoid shovelling heart attacks — pace yourself.

• Rural trick: run a string lifeline from your house to the barn/shop so you don’t get lost in white-out conditions.

• Bring pets and livestock in, and give them non-frozen water.

  
  

4. Extreme Heat – Getting Worse Every Year

Extreme heat is becoming more common. Here’s how to stay cool:

• Drink water every 15–20 minutes, even if you’re not thirsty. Skip booze and caffeine.

• Never leave kids, elders, or pets in a parked car — even with windows cracked, it becomes an oven.

• Cool tricks: Take cold showers, use wet towels on your neck/pulse points, stay on the lowest floor, and use fans + ice packs at night.

• Know your local cooling centres (libraries, malls, community centres).

  
  

5. High-Rise Specifics

Living in a high-rise comes with its own set of challenges.

• Know your building’s fire safety plan and where the emergency exits are.

• Tell management if you or a family member will need evacuation help.

• Power out? Upper floors can lose water pressure — store extra bottled water.

• In a medical emergency, call 911 first, then security so they can meet first responders and control elevators.

  
  

6. Evacuation vs Shelter-in-Place

Knowing when to evacuate is crucial.

• Only evacuate when officials say so — grab your kit and pets.

• For shelter-in-place situations (like a chemical spill), close windows/doors and shut off your furnace/AC to keep bad air out.

  
  

7. Stay Informed

Staying informed is key to your safety.

• Sign up for Alert Ready (wireless emergency alerts straight to your phone).

• Bookmark Ontario511.ca for road conditions.

• Pick an out-of-town emergency contact — local networks often overload.

  
  

8. The Importance of Community Preparedness

Community preparedness is just as vital as personal readiness. When we work together, we create a stronger safety net.

• Organize neighborhood meetings to discuss emergency plans.

• Share resources and knowledge about local hazards.

• Create a community emergency response team (CERT) to train and prepare for various scenarios.

  
  

Final Word from the Bushcraft Highway

Being prepared isn’t about paranoia — it’s about freedom. When you know you and your crew can handle a multi-day blackout, a brutal winter storm, or scorching heat, you get to enjoy Ontario’s wilderness (or city life) with real peace of mind.

Take 30 minutes this weekend: check your kits, top up the water, rotate the food, and charge your power banks. Your future self will thank you when the lights or heat go out, and you’re the calm one with the working headlamp and hot coffee.

Stay safe, stay ready,

The Bushcraft Highway

www.bushcraft-highway.com/preparedness

ontario.ca/BePrepared (official source)