Emergency Preparedness Week from May 3 to 9, 2026

Emergency preparedness is a responsibility shared by citizens, municipalities and the government to ensure the safety of the population in the event of a disaster or emergency, i.e. a natural or man-made event that can cause damage and loss of life.

Make a family emergency plan and prepare an emergency kit

In the event of a disaster or natural catastrophe, you are primarily responsible for your own safety. It’s important to be prepared to stay in your home for at least 72 hours, ensuring your well-being and safety until rescue teams arrive, while being able to leave quickly if necessary.

Develop a family emergency plan

Including :

• an emergency kit;
• a list of key contacts;
• an evacuation plan;
• instructions for cutting off water, electricity and gas;
• an inventory of your belongings;
• checking your home insurance coverage.

Prepare an emergency kit

Always have the essentials in your home to last at least the first 3 days of a disaster, stored in a convenient, well-identified location. Inform your family of its location, check its contents annually, and replace outdated or worn-out items as needed.

Here are 7 essential items to have in your home emergency kit:

• Drinking water (6 liters per person);
• Non-perishable food (for at least 3 days);
• Manual can opener;
• Battery-powered radio – spare batteries;
• Headlamp or flashlight – spare batteries or crank lamp;
• Lighter or matches and candles;
• First-aid kit – antiseptics, analgesics, adhesive bandages, sterile gauze pads, scissors, etc.

If you have to evacuate your home, you’ll need an emergency kit to take with you. Plan a route out of your neighborhood in case of evacuation. Plan a second route in case roads are impassable. Don’t forget to inform your friends and family and the municipality where you plan to take refuge.

Here are the essential items to have in your bag ready to go:

• medicines;
• hygiene articles;
• a change of clothes;
• blankets;
• cash;
• identification;
• car and house keys;
• games or books to amuse yourself or take your mind off things;
• electronic devices and the accessories used to connect them.

And, as required :

• the equipment your service dog or pet needs.
• milk, baby bottles and diapers;
• items required for the well-being of people with special needs;

Test your emergency preparedness knowledge!

MSP invites you to take part in the Test Your Emergency Preparedness Knowledge quiz to see how well prepared you are in the event of an emergency! Are you up to the challenge? (in French only)

Do the test

Claims in figures

• In Quebec, our territory is exposed to more than 15 different natural and man-made hazards which represent risks for the population and the environment;
• In 2024, more than 175 flooding episodes were recorded in Quebec;
• There are around 450 earthquakes a year in eastern Canada, where Quebec’s three seismic zones are located: western Quebec, Charlevoix-Kamouraska and Bas-Saint-Laurent;
• Every year in Quebec, more than a hundred cases of soil instability or landslides are reported to municipal authorities. They often occur in spring or autumn. Their frequency can increase during extreme weather events;
• Every year in Quebec, an average of 20 tornadoes are recorded. They occur most often in the late afternoon or early evening, from June to August;
• On average, the Société de protection des forêts contre le feu (SOPFEU) counts over 450 forest fires a year in the southern part of Quebec.

Useful links

Make your family emergency plan and emergency kit, Government of Quebec
What to do before, during and after an emergency or disaster, Government of Quebec
Semaine de la sécurité civile 2026, Government of Quebec (in French only)
Get prepared, Government of Canada

May 4

Let’s also take a moment to recognize International Firefighters’ Day on May 4: thank you to our firefighters who work day in and day out to keep our community safe! ❤️