Ready for Almost Anything

- Key Emergency Preparedness Tips from Ontario’s Official Guides -

Whether you’re stuck in a blackout or hunkered down in a high-rise, emergency preparedness in Ontario is your ultimate lifeline when Mother Nature, or something else, throws a curveball. I’ve pulled the most practical advice from official guides and distilled it into this easy read so 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, ensuring 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, the goal is to keep you calm and ready when the lights go out.

1. The 72-Hour Emergency Kit – Your Lifeline

Ontario says you should be able to survive on your own for at least 3 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

• 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 fridge/freezer closed — a full freezer stays cold 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

• More Canadians die from winter storms than hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes combined.

• Dress in layers, waterproof boots, cover extremities — check for frostbite (white/numb skin).

• Avoid shovelling heart attacks — pace yourself.

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

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

4. Extreme Heat – Getting Worse Every Year

• 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: cold showers, wet towels on neck/pulse points, stay on lowest floor, use fans + ice packs at night.

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

5. High-Rise Specifics

• 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.

• Medical emergency → call 911 first, then security so they can meet first responders and control elevators.

6. Evacuation vs Shelter-in-Place

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

• Shelter-in-place (chemical spill, etc.) → close windows/doors, shut off furnace/AC to keep bad air out.

7. Stay Informed

• 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.

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, 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)