Emergency Preparedness: Get Ready Kingston
RELATED LINKS
Take the province's Emergency Preparedness Challenge.
Have a home escape plan in case of fire.
KFL&A Public Health has prepared a Hot Weather Response Plan designed to reduce risks associated with hot weather events.
KFL&A Public Health has prepared a Cold Weather Response Plan designed to reduce risks associated with cold weather events.
ALSO IN THIS SECTION
Learn more about how to prepare for certain possible emergencies.
See a report on a 2007 Survey of Emergency Preparedness in Kingston.
DOWNLOADS
For a hard copy of this information, you can simply print this Web page, or download the designed-for-print guide below.
Your Get Ready Kingston Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide.
Use this template to begin your personal emergency contacts list.
[PDF 27KB]
PDF HELP
The freely available Adobe Reader software can be used to view the PDF documents on the City of Kingston Web site.
[Download]
Are you and your family prepared for an emergency? It is a good idea to:
- Create and practice a household disaster plan. [SEE DETAILS BELOW]
- Assemble a Household Emergency Supply Kit. [SEE DETAILS BELOW]
- Assemble a Go Bag. [SEE DETAILS BELOW]
- Get your Get Ready Kingston Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide (available at right) to become familiar with how to face possible emergencies like: extreme weather (storms, flash floods, and tornados), blackout and other utility disruptions, fires, hazardous materials spills, and disease outbreaks.
- Take a First Aid/CPR course. Learning first aid and CPR may enable you to save a life before emergency teams arrive at the scene.
- Are you prepared? Take the province's Emergency Preparedness Challenge (see link at right).
CREATE A HOUSEHOLD DISASTER PLAN
Develop and practice a disaster plan with your household members to know what to do, how to find each other and how to communicate in an emergency.
Build your plan:
- Decide where your household members will gather after a disaster.
- Identify two places to meet: one near your home and other outside of your neighbourhood.
- Practice using all possible exit routes from your home and neighbourhood.
- Designate an out-of-town contact who household members can call if separated during an emergency. This out-of-town contact can help you communicate with others.
- Plan to meet the needs of everyone in your household, especially seniors, people with disabilities, children and pets.
ASSEMBLE AN EMERGENCY SUPPLY KIT
Keep enough supplies stocked in your home to allow you and your family to survive for at least three days (72 hours). Update your supplies twice a year at daylight-savings times. Suggested items are available at your local grocery or hardware store.
Your household emergency kit should include:
- Get Ready Kingston Personal Emergency Preparedness Guide [PDF: 726KB] — provides information to help you prepare for an all-hazards emergency.
- A Go Bag. [SEE DETAILS BELOW]
- Flashlight — place batteries in reverse inside to conserve energy while not in use (or tape batteries outside).
- Battery-operated or crank radio and extra batteries — to receive the latest news during an emergency. Place batteries in reverse inside to conserve energy while not in use (or tape batteries outside). The City's Information Radio at 106.3 will issue regular updates on local emergencies. Other local radio stations include: CBC Radio One 107.5, K-Rock 105.7, The Lite 104.3, BOB FM 103.7, The Lake 102.7, CFRC 101.9, The Drive 98.9, Fly FM 98.3, FM 96 96.3, and Kix FM 93.5.
- Batteries. Include extra batteries to run flashlight and radio.
- First Aid Kit: adhesive bandages, waterproof tape, antiseptic wipes, assorted bandages, gauze pads, gauze roll, cotton sterile roll, eye pads, eye wash, face masks, first aid cream packets, cold pack, non-adhesive pads, plastic bags, scissors, triangular bandage, tweezers, latex gloves, first aid instructions.
- Bottled water. Four litres of water per person per day for drinking and bathing.
- Cash. Have $20 - $100 on hand in case ATM machines are not operational during an emergency.
- Non-perishable, ready-to-eat canned foods and a manual can opener.
- Whistle. This will allow you to signal for help during an emergency and alert others of an emergency in your vicinity.
-
Evacuation/Home Escape Plan. Have a Home Escape Plan to get out of your house. Decide on a
meeting place where you and household members can gather after an evacuation. More
information on preparing a Home Escape Plan is available in the Personal Emergency
Preparedness Guide.
[SEE HOME ESCAPE PLAN DETAILS] - Plastic sheeting. This can be used to seal all doors, windows and ventilation systems as may be required in certain emergencies (when authorities may ask you to shelter-in-place).
- Duct tape. As with plastic sheeting duct tape can be used to seal all doors, windows and ventilation systems as may be required in certain emergencies (when authorities may ask you to shelter-in-place).
- A phone that does not require electricity.
ASSEMBLE A GO BAG
Every household member should put together a Go Bag — a collection of items to be used in the event of an evacuation. Each Go Bag should be sturdy, lightweight, waterproof and portable. A backpack makes a good Go Bag.
Include in your Go Bag:
- Copies of credit and debit cards and cash.
- Bottled water and non-perishable snacks like granola bars.
- Flashlight.
- Battery operated or crank radio and extra batteries.
- Medication. Pack any prescription and over-the-counter medications you may need in addition to a list of your medications and copies of your prescription slips. Check expiration dates on medication regularly.
- First aid kit.
- Regional map.
- Contact lists — including designated out-of-city and out-of-province contacts. See the Emergency Preparedness Guide to help you compile your contact sheet. Information should be reviewed and updated regularly.
- Comfortable shoes. These will allow you to walk long distances if necessary.
- Extra keys. Have extra house and car keys in your Go Bag.
- Toiletry kit: hand sanitizer, toothpaste, tooth brushes, a change of contact lenses and solution, feminine hygiene products, shaving cream, razors, soap, moist towelettes, band-aids, nail clippers, Q-Tips, lip balm, and sunscreen.
- Blankets. A mylar blanket is windproof and waterproof. It will prevent you from losing body heat and protect you from all weather conditions.
- Rain gear. A lightweight waterproof poncho and an umbrella will help keep you dry.
- Copies of important documents such as birth certificates, photo I.D., and insurance information should go in your Go Bag and stored in a waterproof plastic bag or stored on a CD-ROM or DVD. Keep a copy of your pet's licence and ID tag with you records in case your pet is lost.
- Special items that may be needed for children, seniors. These may include: glasses, medications, leashes, pet food, carriers, soothers, toys, diapers etc.
- Photographs of household members and pets.
- Mess kit: cooking and eating utensils, plates, cups, forks, spoons, knives and paper towels.
