When an emergency hits (whether it is a sudden wildfire, a fast-rising flood, or a severe storm), your brain instantly shifts into survival mode. High stress makes it nearly impossible to think clearly, make decisions, or remember critical details. It is even tougher when your kids or family members are looking to you to stay calm.

Preparation is not about living in fear. It is about giving yourself and your loved ones the gift of being ready so you can focus on what matters most: getting everyone to safety.

To help you get prepared, we have put together the comprehensive Evacuation Readiness Checklist (attached below). Here is a quick breakdown of how to use it to protect your family, your pets, and your home.

1. Do These Annual Prep Tasks (Put Them on Your Calendar!)

Emergency preparedness isn't something you need to stress over daily; you just need to review it once a year:

• Review Your Insurance: Check if you are fully covered for wildfires, floods, and other disasters, and make sure your coverage matches current rebuild costs. Don't forget to ask about Additional Living Expenses coverage for hotel stays.

• Video Everything You Own: Walk through every room and film inside closets, drawers, and kitchen cupboards. Film serial numbers on electronics. If you ever need to file a claim, your insurance company will need proof.

• Store Proof Safely: Save your video walk-through in cloud storage or on a USB drive stored off-site.

2. Pack Your "Go Bag" Today

A Go Bag is a durable backpack or duffel bag kept near your front door or in your car that you can grab in seconds. Key essentials include:

• Water & Food: At least 3 days of water (4 liters per person per day) and non-perishable food with a manual can opener.

• Emergency Gear: First aid kit, flashlight, N95/KN95 masks (crucial for wildfire smoke), a battery-powered radio, and a basic toolkit.

• Cash & Contacts: At least $100 in small bills (ATMs and card readers often fail during outages) and a written list of important phone numbers in case your phone dies.

• Sanitation & Tech: Hygiene items, paper towels, chargers, and a backup power bank.

3. Secure Important Documents

Keep original or physical copies of essential documents in a waterproof bag inside your Go Bag, or scan them to a secure app:

• Passports, birth certificates, driver's licenses, and SIN cards

• House mortgage/lease papers and car registration

• Insurance policies and agent contact info

• Family and pet medical records, plus a full list of current medications

4. Make a Plan for Kids & Pets

• Kids: Talk to your kids calmly before anything happens. Make sure they know two emergency phone numbers by heart. Pack a comfort item (a favorite blanket or stuffed animal), snacks, and activities to keep them calm.

• Pets: Never leave pets behind. Keep carriers, leashes, 3 days of pet food/water, medications, and vaccination records together. Tip: Research pet-friendly evacuation centers or hotels in your area now.

5. Keep Your Gas Tank Full

During fire or flood season, make it a habit to never let your tank drop below half full. Gas stations sell out fast or lose power during mass evacuations. Every liter in your tank is one less thing to worry about when every minute counts.

6. Last-Minute Home Prep (Only If You Have Time!)

If an evacuation order is issued and you have time to safely secure your property before leaving:

• Inside: Grab your Go Bags, medications, pets, and irreplaceable sentimentals. Close all interior doors and windows to slow the spread of fire. Turn off the HVAC system and unplug major electronics.

• Outside: Move propane tanks, patio furniture, and flammables away from the house. Close vents, shut your garage door, and lock up. Leave your porch/outdoor lights on so firefighters can see your home through thick smoke.

Download the Full Checklist Below

Don't wait for a warning to be issued. Print out the full Evacuation Readiness Checklist attached to this post, keep it somewhere visible, and walk through it with your family.

Remember: Preparation is not about panic; it is about confidence. When you already have a plan, you don't have to think. You just go.

(Special thanks to Melanie Galea, RE/MAX Connect at ReadyToEvac.com for creating and sharing this incredible resource!)