Extreme storms, floods, wildfires and prolonged heat waves are growing more frequent as the effects of climate change become more apparent. Increasingly, the next power outage, flood or heat wave may not be a brief inconvenience measured in hours or days. As the risks increase, Lanark County residents are being urged to prepare for emergencies that could disrupt daily life for longer periods of time.
Perth Fire Chief and Director of Protective Services Trevor Choffe says the first step is understanding the hazards closest to home. In Perth and the surrounding region, severe weather is increasingly bringing microbursts, tornadoes, winter cold snaps and power failures. Flooding is another concern, particularly for homes in low-lying areas and floodplains.
“The first thing is knowing the risks and then making a plan,” Choffe said.
That plan should answer practical questions before an emergency turns them into urgent ones: How will the household manage without electricity? Does anyone rely on powered medical equipment? Where will family members meet if they become separated? What happens to pets? Does everyone know how to shut off the water or gas, and where medications and important documents are kept?
The Government of Canada recommends three basic steps: know the risks, make a household emergency plan and assemble a portable emergency kit. Its planning guide encourages families to choose meeting places, identify an out-of-town contact and record important medical, school and emergency information.
A basic kit should include water, non-perishable food, a manual can opener, flashlights, a battery-powered or crank radio, first-aid supplies, medications, cash, extra keys and copies of important documents. It should be portable, accessible and familiar to everyone in the household.
Federal guidance still uses 72 hours as the minimum period households should be able to manage without assistance. Choffe believes that benchmark may no longer reflect today’s reality.
“They say 72 hours. I say, I don’t love that number,” he said.
For Lanark County residents, a week is a more realistic target. That means at least 14 litres of drinking water per person, based on the federal minimum of two litres per person per day, plus additional water for cooking and hygiene. Food, medications, batteries and pet supplies should also cover seven days. Kits should be checked in spring and fall, with expired items replaced and portable supplies kept where they can be reached quickly.
Generators can be lifesavers, but Choffe warns they can also be deadly. They must never be operated inside a home or garage, or near doors and windows, because of the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning. Generators should be maintained, tested regularly and supplied with fresh fuel. Working carbon monoxide alarms are an essential safeguard.
While a plan and kit are crucial, preparedness must extend to the home itself, says Susan Brandum, co-founder and director of the Climate Network Lanark. Flooding, drought, wildfire, smoke and extreme heat all require residents to think about long-term climate resilience, particularly in older houses built before climate adaptation became part of building design.
Improvements such as insulation, air sealing, heat pumps, battery backup systems, sump-pump backups and measures to redirect water can reduce both energy costs and vulnerability. During a heat wave, a power failure can become especially dangerous when cooling systems stop working.
Climate Network Lanark posts climate resilience workshops on its YouTube channel through its Concierge program. One such workshop is called Store Your Power, outlining how homeowners can use solar panels and battery storage to make their homes more resilient during outages.
“You generate power from the solar system, feed it into the battery, and then you have power during those days without electricity,” Brandum said, adding that homeowners can also charge their battery overnight when electricity rates are lowest, then draw from it during higher-priced daytime hours or in a power outage, at least for a time. It’s a Hydro One program and there is funding available for it.
The Concierge program helps homeowners navigate funding, energy assessments, retrofits, heat pumps, solar power and household resilience planning. The program combines expert guidance with small peer groups, helping residents move from simply hearing about climate solutions to putting them into action with financial support.
Preparedness, Brandum added, is also a neighbourhood effort. Knowing who may need help, sharing information and checking on older or vulnerable residents can make a significant difference when power, communications and emergency services are strained.
The old rule was to hold out until help arrived. The new reality may require households to remain safe, informed and self-sufficient for an entire week.
More information on the steps needed to retrofit a home and the financial assistance available can be found on the Climate Network Lanark website: www.climatenetworklanark.ca.
Emergency preparedness checklist
Could your household manage for a full week without electricity, running water or immediate outside assistance? Keep supplies together in an accessible location. Use backpacks, duffle bags or wheeled suitcases so essential items can be taken during an evacuation.
WATER AND FOOD
☐ 28 litres of water per person
Allow four litres per person per day: two litres for drinking and two litres for cooking and hygiene. Include some smaller bottles that are easy to carry.
☐ Seven days of non-perishable food
☐ Food requiring little or no cooking
☐ Manual can opener
☐ Utensils and disposable dishes
☐ Infant formula or special dietary foods
☐ Seven days of pet food and water
LIGHT, POWER AND INFORMATION
☐ Crank or battery-powered flashlight
☐ Crank or battery-powered radio or Weatheradio
☐ Extra batteries
☐ Phone, charged power banks, charging cables
☐ Whistle to signal for help
HEALTH AND PERSONAL NEEDS
☐ First-aid kit
☐ At least one week of prescription medications
☐ Copies of prescriptions and medical information
☐ Toiletries, toilet paper and hand sanitizer
☐ Masks suitable for smoke and airborne particles
☐ Equipment required by anyone with a disability or medical condition
☐ Spare glasses, hearing-aid batteries or mobility supplies
WARMTH, SHELTER AND SANITATION
☐ Warm blanket or sleeping bag for each person
☐ Change of clothing and sturdy footwear
☐ Garbage bags
☐ Water-purification tablets
☐ Basic tools, work gloves and duct tape
DOCUMENTS AND MONEY
☐ Household emergency plan
☐ Emergency contacts and an out-of-town contact
☐ Copies of identification, insurance documents and health cards stored in a waterproof container
☐ Extra house and vehicle keys
☐ Cash in small bills
CHECK IT REGULARLY
Store the kit where everyone can find it. Check it in spring and fall, replacing expired food, water, medications and batteries. Personalize it for children, older adults, pets and anyone with medical or accessibility needs.
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