Emergency preparedness View

Personal & community preparedness

Emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility. Let’s work together to build a culture and community of readiness.

Steps to preparedness

By taking simple steps now, you can stay safe, help others, and reduce the burden on emergency responders—allowing them to focus on the most vulnerable and restore essential services faster.

1. Know the risks

Be aware of the risks and hazards in your community and know how to respond.

2. Get notified

Sign up to receive emergency communications, be familiar with different types of emergency alerts and zones to respond quickly and confidently. Learn more about Emergency notifications.

3. Make a plan

Write down key contact information, collect important documents and decide with your household where to meet and how to communicate in emergency times. Don’t forget to plan for pet(s).

4. Make a kit

Build a kit that supports your plan. Prep a grab-and-go bag should you need to leave your house on short notice, and be prepared to stay home. Consider a car kit if you commute. Don’t forget to account for your pet(s).

Make a plan

Emergencies can be overwhelming, and making decisions under pressure can be challenging. Taking the time to prepare a plan before you need it will help you respond more effectively and reduce stress when it matters most.

Make sure your household is familiar with your plan. Write your plan down and keep copies at home, at work, and in your car just in case. Then, gather the items you’ll need to support and follow through your plan to make an emergency kit.

When making a plan, consider:

Who is in your plan?

Your plan should include the people you most care about, whether they are your family, friends or pets. Think about how independent they are, how you might get to them or even just get in touch. It’s a good idea to ensure those included in the plan are familiar with it. Consider who relies on you during an emergency. If you are new to Canada or have recently moved to a new area, make arrangements through neighbours, friends, community organizations or cultural associations.

What are the things you absolutely need?

Do you wear glasses, have health or accessibility concerns, or require medication? Make sure these important things are accounted for in your plan, along with specific instructions or requirements.

Where are you likely to be?

Your plan should include common locations like home, work, school, etc., where you’re most likely to be when an emergency happens. Think about how your travel to and from these locations and how that might be impacted.

Where will you meet?

Choose a local meeting place where your family or friends can reunite.

What local hazards are you planning for?

Be aware of local hazards in your community.

Key contacts

Primary contact for updates and check ins. Ideally, someone out-of-province or not impacted from the hazard as local networks may be overloaded.
Designated helper(s) to assist with children pickup and/or care for pets, if needed.
Trusted individuals who can assist you during an emergency.
Should you require specialized medical or mobility equipment, ensure your trusted individuals are familiar and know how to use it.

Tailor your plan to where you live and work

Your plan should include common locations where you are most likely to be when an emergency happens. Think about how you travel to and from these locations and how that might be impacted:

Your city and region

What hazards are common (e.g., earthquakes, wildfires, floods) in BC)?

Your neighbourhood

Do you rely on bridges or tunnels for travel?
Are you located near a body of water or at the top of a steep hill?

Your immediate surroundings

What are the access routes in and out of your building?
Do you know how to turn off gas, water, and electricity?

Build a kit

An emergency kit is a collection of essential supplies to keep you, your household and pets safe and self-sufficient at home for a minimum of three days (72 hours). In some emergency situations, you may need to leave immediately – having a grab-and-go bag, a smaller version of your home kit with at least one day’s (24 hours) worth of supplies, is also essential. If you have a car, prepare an emergency car kit to keep in your vehicle.

Emergencies can happen at any time. Consider where you may be and what items you may benefit from having with you. Your kits complement each other and support your emergency plan. Store them in a safe, accessible location and ensure everyone in your household knows where to find them. For more information on types of kits (grab-and-go vs. home kit), watch this video from PrepareBC.

What to consider having in a basic emergency kit

Building a kit is simple and doesn’t have to be costly. You may already have many important items; the key is to make sure they are consolidated and easy to access. You can also purchase ready-made emergency kits with retailers online or at the UBC Bookstore.

First aid supplies and medications
Four litres of water per person, per day (for at least 3 days)
72-hour supply of non-perishable food + manual can opener
Important documentation
Glasses, hearing aids, and other personal medical equipment
Battery-powered or hand-crank radio and flashlight, plus extra batteries
Whistle to signal for help
Cell phone chargers (battery, inverter, solar)
Local maps and a family meeting plan
Cash in small bills
Personal hygiene items (toilet paper, moist towelettes, garbage bags)
Dust masks
Seasonal clothing and sturdy footwear
Copies of important documents and identification
Multi-tool
Pet emergency kit: food, water, medication, documentation, extra leash/collar, waste supplies, crate/carrier.

Community preparedness

Your community and neighbours play an important role before, during and after an emergency. In an emergency, neighbours are often the first to help.

Connect with neighbours

Introduce yourself to your neighbours
Attend community events – Events in the community are a great place to get started.
- Participate in student housing events or check out what’s happening on campus at UBC events.
- See ongoing programming at University Neighbnourhoods Association (UNA)
Join or establish communication networks (e.g., chat, email list, etc.)
Check in on each other and create a buddy system
Create a neighbourhood/building/floor map identifying resources, skills, people who may need extra assistance, or where to meet in an emergency
Collaborate on shared preparedness projects and keep each other accountable

Get involved

Attend personal preparedness workshops
Find training opportunities
Apply for funding to support community building and connectedness. Check out UBC Inspired community grants.

Helpful reminder:

Local phone lines may become overwhelmed during an emergency. Designate an out-of-area contact that everyone in your family knows to check in with. Long-distance calls often go through when local calls don’t.

Additional resources

Government of British Columbia: Make your Emergency Ready Plan
Government of British Columbia: PreparedBC emergency Guides and resources