So, yeah, Mother Nature has been having some very serious personal issues with us folks on Vancouver Island for the last week or so. It’s nerve wracking at these sort of times when you look around your house and realize that you’ve got one match, a tiny tea light, no stored water and the pantry is looking slim.

What if something major happened? No power. No running water. No heat. No access to the grocery store. I’m not a doom and gloom sort of gal – but rose colored glasses aren’t going to help me when there’s 12 inches of water in the basement.

It’s a bit of a scary prospect. Heck, I freak out when the Internet is down for an hour. The reality is that most of us aren’t prepared for a nature-related emergency.

With this rainy season only just starting and my Mother Bear instincts kicking in, there’s some hibernation preparation that can, and will, take place in our house very soon.

I checked in with the Emergency Preparedness folks in the Comox Valley to see what they recommend an average family does to be ready for any situation, and this is what they shared:

The government of Canada recommends that all families have enough basic supplies to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Their basic emergency kit recommendation includes:

• Water – two litres of water per person per day (Include small bottles that can be carried easily in case of an evacuation order),
• Food – that won’t spoil, such as canned food, energy bars and dried foods (remember to replace the food and water once a year),
• Manual can opener,
• Flashlight and batteries,
• Battery–powered or wind–up radio (and extra batteries),
• First aid kit,
• Special needs items – prescription medications, infant formula or equipment for people with disabilities,
• Extra keys – for your car and house,
• Cash – include smaller bills, such as $10 bills (travellers cheques are also useful) and change for payphones, and
• An Emergency Plan – include a copy of it and ensure it contains in–town and out–of–town contact information.

Additional supplies should include:

• Two additional litres of water per person per day for cooking and cleaning,
• Candles and matches or lighter (place in sturdy containers and do not burn unattended),
• Change of clothing and footwear for each household member,
• Sleeping bag or warm blanket for each household member,
• Toiletries,
• Hand sanitizer,
• Toilet paper,
• Utensils,
• Garbage bags,
• Household chlorine bleach or water purifying tablets,
• Basic tools (hammer, pliers, wrench, screwdrivers, work gloves, and pocket knife),
• Small fuel-operated stove and fuel,
• Whistle (to attract attention), and
• Duct tape.

Have an Emergency Plan that includes:

• Safe exits from home and neighborhood,
• Meeting places to reunite with family or roommates,
• Designated person to pick up children should you be unavailable,
• Contact persons close-by and out-of-town,
• Health information,
• Place for your pet to stay,
• Risks in your region, and
• Location of your fire extinguisher, water valve, electrical box, gas valve and floor drain.

Being prepared for a short-term event can seriously make the difference. Emergency preparedness professionals at the Comox Valley Regional District have a whole set of resources in downloadable PDFs that help you figure out everything you need to have – even recommended grocery lists, what to have in a first-aid kit and home hazards that can be avoided.

You can access all of them HERE.

They also recommend that we all begin to take the time and get to know our neighbors, talk about safety and begin to work together, so that when situations arise systems are in place.

So, as we stay inside having battened down the hatches for this current storm, take the time to pull some basics together in a central location and see what you may need to add to your supplies. Then, see if you can lend a hand to help a neighbor be prepared too.

Safety first.

Have a great Friday.