How to prepare for a disaster

If a major disaster occurs in Laval, you must be prepared to either stay at home—potentially without electricity or water—or leave your home quickly.

Preparing : your responsability

Did you know that the Civil Security Act, which aims to enhance disaster resilience (CSARS), states that all citizens are primarily responsible for their own safety and the protection of their property? In the event of a major emergency, you must be prepared and self-sufficient. Depending on the situation, you may be required to:

Leave your home immediately
Stay at home, possibly without drinking water or electricity

In case of a disaster, emergency teams have two main priorities:

Securing the disaster site
Rescuing the most vulnerable individuals

You are therefore responsible for ensuring you can meet your needs for at least 72 hours by having:

A family emergency plan
All the necessary items to cover your basic needs for 72+ hours
A grab-and-go bag containing essential items in case of evacuation

This is what Laval calls the Autonomy 72h+ program!

How to ensure your self-sufficiency for 72 hours

Make sure you always have essential items at home to meet your basic needs for at least 72 hours.

Drinking water (2 liters per person per day)
Additional water for food preparation and hygiene (2 liters per person per day)
Sufficient non-perishable food
Manual can opener
Flashlight and spare batteries
Portable charger
Backup heating device
Hand-crank radio
First aid kit
Candles and lighter/matches (place candles in sturdy, deep containers and never leave them unattended)
Photocopies of identification documents
Sufficient medication
Family emergency plan
Assistive devices or specialized equipment if needed
If you have a baby at home:
- Instant formula
- Disposable diapers
- Bottles
- Medication
If you have a pet at home:
- Food
- Medication

The grab-and-go bag

If you need to leave your home quickly, make sure you have all necessary items within reach. Gather everything in an easy-to-carry bag stored in a place known to all household members.

A paper copy of your family emergency plan
Cash
Water bottle and non-perishable snacks
Copies of identification and important documents (e.g., passport, birth certificate, insurance policies)
Spare keys
Essential medications and medical devices (e.g., glucose meter, hearing aids)
Prescriptions for medications and glasses
Portable charger
Change of clothes
Hygiene products (e.g., feminine hygiene products, toothbrush)
Essential items for you and your family (e.g., glasses, dentures, baby supplies, incontinence pads)

Family emergency plan

In an emergency, chaos and confusion can arise quickly. It is essential to prepare your family emergency plan ahead of time. This plan should include:

Main risks in your region
Health information for all family members
A list of emergency contacts
The location of shut-off valves (gas, water, electrical panel, floor drain)
A home evacuation plan in case of fire
Insurance information

Create your plan now!

The following document will help you develop a complete family emergency plan.

For it to be effective, remember:

All family members should know the plan
It should be printed and included in your grab-and-go bag

Shelter-in-place plan

The term “shelter-in-place” was widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic, but here it refers to a more strict and short-term measure requiring additional steps to stay safe in dangerous situations, such as:

Extreme weather conditions (tornado, high winds, etc.)
Hazardous materials incident (gas leak, etc.)
Explosion risk
Earthquake
Presence of an armed individual or public safety threat

Laval has an alert system to inform residents quickly in emergencies requiring shelter-in-place. We recommend registering for this system to receive real-time alerts.

Some industries in Laval handle hazardous materials. The risk of an accident is low but not nonexistent.

If you must shelter-in-place due to an alarm siren or authorities’ request:

Find immediate shelter in the nearest building
Choose a safe room, preferably interior with few or no windows
Gather supplies (water, food, pet needs) for a few hours
Close all doors and windows
Seal air vents, cracks around doors and windows with tape, wet towels, or plastic sheeting
Turn off all air intake systems, such as air exchangers, AC units, heat pumps, stove hoods, dryers, etc.
Stay away from doors and windows
Listen to local radio or official city channels for updates
Do not attempt to pick up children from school—they will be safe there
Limit phone use to genuine emergencies (calling 9-1-1)

Winter emergency car kit

Compact shovel
Ice scraper and snow brush
Sand or salt bag
Jumper cables
Hand-crank flashlight or spare batteries
Safety flag and flares
Carbon monoxide detector
Whistle (to attract attention if needed)
Extreme cold windshield washer fluid
Small toolkit (screwdriver, pliers, etc.)
Waste bag

Traction mats
Tow rope
Fire extinguisher
Fuel line antifreeze
Blanket
Warm spare clothes (hat, scarf, gloves, boots, socks)
Hand and foot warmers
Non-perishable snacks (e.g., energy bars)
Bottled water
First aid kit
Seatbelt cutter and window breaker (keep in glove compartment or attached to keychain)
Phone charger
Updated road maps

Reminder:

Regularly check and update your car kit, especially before winter.
Keep lock de-icer at home.
Check road conditions before traveling (Québec 511).
If roads are unsafe, travel only if necessary.

What to Do in Case of an Emergency Evacuation?

An evacuation may be ordered when an imminent danger directly threatens the occupants of a location, such as a fire or a flood. The goal is to leave the premises quickly to reach safety.

How to Evacuate

If authorities order an evacuation:

Take the essentials: documents, personal belongings, medications, and a grab-and-go-bag.
If instructed, turn off water, electricity, and gas.
Lock your home before leaving.
Head to a shelter location designated in your family emergency plan.
Follow the designated route to the emergency shelter, if applicable.
Arrange shelter for your pets if necessary.
Report your shelter location by calling 311 (or 450 978-8000 if outside Laval).
Wait for authorization before returning home.

For pets

These steps will help ensure your pet’s safety during an emergency evacuation:

Identify your pet with a collar and tag
Ensure your pet is microchipped, as per municipal regulations
Gather essential items for your pet, including:
- Carrier
- Leash and harness
- Food and water for at least 72 hours
- Bowls and can opener
- Newspapers, toilet paper, waste bags, litter
- Medication and veterinary records
- First aid kit
- Blanket and toy

If you are staying in a shelter provided by the City, you must check whether pets are allowed and the conditions for their admission.