Be Prepared. Know Your Risks. That’s the theme of this year’s Emergency Preparedness Week, an important annual national awareness initiative whose aim is getting Canadians thinking about emergencies such as floods, home fires, heat waves, wildfires, landslides, tornadoes, power outages and earthquakes.

Run by Public Safety Canada and happening May 3 to May 9 this year, the campaign is encouraging Canadians to be proactive when it comes to emergencies by understanding hazards in their area, building a 72-hour emergency kit, making a family emergency plan and knowing evacuation routes.

The risk of flooding, for instance, is especially high during spring and summer in many parts of the country. Home flooding in the Greater Toronto Area is becoming a bigger problem, says Carl McDowell, president of Canada Waterproofers.

“I think climate change is a factor when it comes to intensifying storms,” he says. “Rainstorms drop water faster, in larger quantities and in short spurts, that cause sewers and storm drains to get overwhelmed. These rainstorms have increased significantly over the past five to 10 years, and especially over the last five years.

“In 2024, over 1,000 homes in Toronto got flooded during the July 16 rainstorm. Cities have increased or added rebates for flood prevention devices, which I believe is a telltale factor that they know there’s an issue.”

Other severe weather-related emergencies have been on the rise as well, in terms of frequency and severity. On the West coast, there was a brutal heat wave in 2021, a “heat dome” which shattered records. In Lytton, B.C., temperatures hit almost 50 degrees Celsius in June of that year, the highest temperature ever recorded in Canada, and a wildfire then destroyed the village.

Wildfires have been becoming a national crisis. According to Public Safety Canada, 2025 was the second worst wildfire season in Canadian history, with more than 6,000 wildfires burning over 8.3 million hectares and impacting communities across the entire country.

Tornadoes and earthquakes are other emergencies that affect many in Canada. The Northern Tornadoes Project says Canada has the second highest number of tornadoes in the world after the U.S., averaging 97 tornadoes per year. There are thousands of earthquakes every year in Canada and, while most are quite small, greater magnitude earthquakes in a dense urban area has the potential to cause immense destruction.

These and other emergencies can strike at any time, so it’s important for Canadians to be ready. Here are some steps they should take.

• Make an emergency plan. Everyone in the family should know and practice safe exits from the home, establish meeting places to reunite with family, designate a person to pick up the kids or other relatives, gather health and insurance information and necessary medications. They should have a plan for how to stay connected with family and friends during an emergency, and how to assist people with disabilities and keep pets safe.
• Prepare an emergency kit. Every household should have a kit that includes everything the family needs to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours (or more in more remote areas or regions more prone to severe weather emergencies). The Canadian Red Cross has tips on what this should include, such as food, water, medicine, battery-operated flashlight and radio, cash and first-aid supplies. There are also prepared kits for purchase for the home and vehicle.
• Know your area’s emergency plans. Every province has an emergency management organization (EMO), which is familiar with regional natural hazards and risks, and cities have their own emergency plans as well.

Disasters and emergencies affect entire communities, and working together can help reduce risks and stay resilient. Public Safety Canada offers these tips on how communities and neighbourhoods can plan for emergencies.

• Plan events that bring people together. Neighbourhood events such as preparedness fairs or workshops can help people learn about local risks, build emergency kits and share their plans. An example of these initiatives includes the Neighbourhood Emergency Preparedness Guide in Brampton, Ont., which has plans for neighbourhoods of various sizes and tips on how to run emergency drills (the Brampton Emergency Management Office has members who will come out to help plan and implement drills).
• Use technology to get to know the people around you. Strong social connections can not only reduce the impact of emergencies but also help communities recover faster.  Neighbours can set up group text chats or Facebook community groups to stay in touch and push out key messages during an emergency.
• Tap local organizations for help. Fire departments, The Canadian Red Cross, municipalities, schools, local media and faith groups all have something to offer during an emergency. They can be key sources of information and support or can offer supplies and gathering places.

Recovering from an emergency is faster and can save lives and property with some preparation, information sharing and community support.

 This article is provided for general information and awareness purposes only. It is not intended to provide legal, technical, safety, or insurance advice, nor to describe the terms, conditions, or availability of any policy. Preparedness measures and risk‑reduction steps do not determine coverage or claims outcomes. References to third‑party organizations, data, or individual viewpoints are for informational purposes only and do not constitute an endorsement. Facts, statistics, and examples are based on publicly available or reported information at the time of writing and may change. Please refer to your policy documents and speak with an agent for advice about your situation.