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She, too, has joined the Ontario Prepper Survival Network.

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Only 60 people attend the first annual meet-up. This year, the group expects more than people. Chisholm is prepped and ready, too, but he is reluctant to identify as a prepper. The word still carries too many negative connotations, he says. So you might have to have something on hand or have a plan and the ability to take care of yourself for a while. There are eight areas of preparedness: A proper emergency kit will cover them all, whether you need to take care of yourself or a family of four.

Your Emergency Preparedness Guide

Includes emergency food bar, water rations, mylar rescue blanket, light sticks, ear loop surgical mask, tampons, toilet paper, whistle, hand-crank flashlight, poncho, work gloves and first aid kid. Hardcore preppers have devised a long list of acronyms and terms that describe their particular interests. Bug In To remain at a specific location until it is safe to head elsewhere.

Bug Out To leave your home and head to a safer location in the event of emergency or disaster. Bug Out Location A predetermined spot, such as a cabin, that is equipped with the necessities of survival that preppers can go to in the event they must leave their primary residence. Doomer A hardcore prepper who is sure that disaster is imminent. WROL Without rule of Law, meaning the lawless state of society that will ensue following a major catastrophe.

Refers to the chaos that will ensue following a catastrophic event. Zombies People who did not prepare for an emergency and who pose a threat to preppers because they will seek them out for food, water and other assistance. Find out how they will contact families during an emergency. Find out what type of authorization the school or daycare requires to release your children to a designated person if you can't pick them up. Make sure the school or daycare has updated contact information for parents, caregivers and designated persons.

In case of an evacuation, remember that pets are not allowed in some public shelters or hotels.


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In case of an evacuation, prepare to take your pets with you to the home of a relative or friend, or take steps to identify pet-friendly hotels or pet boarding facilities in your area and further away from home. Establish a personal support network of friends, relatives, health-care providers, co-workers and neighbours who understand your special needs.

Keep a copy of this information in your emergency kit, and give a copy to your personal support network. Talk to your doctor about preparing a grab-and-go bag, if possible, with a two-week supply of medication and medical supplies. Include prescriptions and medical documents. Remember that pharmacies may be closed for some time, even after an emergency is over. Arrange for each family member to call, e-mail or text the same out-of-town contact person in case of an emergency. Choose an out-of-town contact who lives far enough away that he or she is unlikely to be affected by the same event.

If you are new to Canada or have recently moved to a new area, make arrangements through friends, cultural associations or community organizations. Make sure you have a working carbon monoxide detector, smoke alarm, fire extinguisher and well-stocked first aid kit. If you live in an apartment, or if you are staying in a hotel, know where the fire alarms and at least two emergency exits are located. Make sure you have a fire extinguisher on every level of your home, including one in your kitchen. Everyone in your home should know where to find the fire extinguishers.

Your Emergency Preparedness Guide

All capable adults and older children should know how to use it. See instructions regarding the lifetime of your fire extinguisher and check with your local fire department for more information.

Older children and adults should know how to turn off your home's water, electricity and gas. Make large, easy-to-see signs for water and gas shut-offs as well as for the electrical panel. Teach children how and when to dial as well as how to call the designated out-of-town contact. Utility company phone number: For non-emergency calls, use the ten-digit numbers listed in your local phone book, or this emergency plan, for police, fire and other health services. When notifying emergency services of your location, provide the exact street or civic address and nearest intersection. Listen to the radio or television for information from authorities.

Local officials may advise you to stay where you are. Authorities will not ask you to leave your home unless they have reason to believe that you may be in danger. If you are ordered to evacuate, take your emergency kit, your wallet, personal identification for each family member and copies of essential family documents with you. Bring a cellular phone and spare battery or charger with you, if you have one.

The Globe and Mail

Use travel routes specified by local authorities. If you have time, call or e-mail your out-of-town contact.

Keep up with Mother Nature

Tell them where you are going and when you expect to arrive. Once you are safe, let them know.


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Tell them if any family members have become separated. If possible, leave a note telling others when you left and where you are. Shut off water and electricity if officials tell you to do so. This country is one of the safest in the world. We have no killer animals. There are no major tsunamis.

Or the electrical grid goes out and the food chain goes down and all of a sudden every man and his dog is arguing over a bag of sugar. Do you have your own supplies? Do you have the means to cook?

These are the books you'll want to have read before disaster strikes.

And what about keeping warm — could you make a fire? Some of us buy food through an app; groceries are delivered to our front doors. Do people know how to survive without electricity? The difference between me and someone else? Imagine if we both lost our jobs at the same time.

I could be unemployed for a while without it impacting me financially. Our grandparents were the original preppers, really. They could make a chicken last for two weeks. I wrote my doctorate on survival psychology and completed the write-up in LA, on the San Andreas fault. But when I returned from LA I reconsidered, and I started to identify situations for which prepping might give me a bit of an advantage. Think of mothers with young kids: I live about an hour outside Manchester. I store a bit of extra food in case the food and petrol chains crumble. I travel with a blanket and thermals in case I break down in snow, lose a phone signal and am too far away from home to walk.

My husband once got stuck in poor weather on a motorway. Topics Life and style The Observer.