During a major emergency, you may not have access to grocery stores or they may run out of food supplies, so you need to be prepared with your own food. Keep a 3-day supply of food and water on hand for you, your family, and your pets.
If you need to purify your drinking water before using it, either boil or disinfect it.
Wash your storage containers and strain the water
Before purifying your water:
Boil the water
Disinfect the water
Warning: Using too much or the wrong kind of bleach can harm you and your family. Be sure to follow the bleach directions exactly. Use only household liquid bleach that contains 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, and do not use scented bleaches, coloursafe bleaches, bleaches with added cleaners, or granular forms of bleach.
Dealing with waste and debris following a disaster can be challenging. Good hygiene and hand washing are critical to prevent the spread of illness and disease. In the absence of water, use hand sanitizer, but it’s less effective than soap and water.
How to build an emergency toilet
Water and sewage infrastructure may be damaged, leaving you with no water or working toilets. If water supply is cut off, you may need to create an emergency toilet.
Prepare for, respond to, and recover from earthquakes, severe weather, heat waves, and other disasters in our free workshops.
Did you know there is a 1 in 4 chance of a major earthquake in Vancouver within the next 50 years?
Be prepared, by creating emergency safety kits filled with supplies you will need if you are forced to evacuate your home.
Get instructions
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The City of Vancouver acknowledges that it is situated on the unceded traditional territories of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam Indian Band), Sḵwx̱wú7mesh (Squamish Nation), and səlilwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh Nation)
More about unceded traditional territories
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