Preparing for an emergency costs little – or nothing

Being ready for an emergency doesn’t mean spending a lot of extra money – especially when you compare it to the potential cost of not being ready if a power outage, hurricane, or a long snow storm hits.

A 72-hour emergency preparedness kit can begin with what is already in your home. Having extra supplies like food, water, and medication can help make life easier if you are storm-stayed or lose power.

If you do need to evacuate your home, making a plan in advance will help you, and will help first responders get you to safety quickly. You can download your own emergency preparedness guide or get a copy from PEI Emergency Measures Organization by calling 902-894-0385

Here are some low or no-cost tips to being better prepared:

• Know who to call for help, and how you will contact them in an emergency (arrange for more than one person, such as a family member or neighbor, to check on you);
• If you have a landline, keep a corded phone for emergencies (cordless phones require power to run) and have charger for your cell phone;
• Learn your apartment building’s evacuation plan (remember, a power outage will disable the elevator) and make an emergency plan with your neighbors so everyone can check on one another;.
• Photocopy your driver’s license, passport, birth certificate, and health card and give copies to trusted friends or family (this will help replace these documents if they are damaged or lost);
• Include your pets’ vaccination records, a leash and collar, extra food, and water in your emergency preparedness kit and make plans for your pet in case you need to evacuate your home.
• Keep your written  prescriptions (including name and dosage) in your wallet and leave a copy with the people in your support network;
• Have a back-up power supply for any medical equipment that requires electricity, and make sure your support network knows how to use it;
• If possible, keep a manual wheelchair for back up (if you normally use an electric wheelchair) in case of an evacuation;