Household emergency preparedness

Proportion of households that have taken specific steps to prepare for a natural disaster.

This indicator is measured in the 2023 cycle of the Households and the Environment Survey (HES). Preparation for natural disasters or weather-related events allows households to be more resilient in the face of environmental vulnerabilities.

What steps have you/your household taken to prepare for a natural disaster?

Select all that apply

• 3-day supply of drinking water (72 hours; 2 litres/person/day + water for pets)
• Food
• Money
• Medication
• Battery powered radio
• Emergency lights: e.g., flash lights, chemical light sticks
• Portable backup generator
• Permanently installed home backup generator
  e.g., Generac®
• Emergency solar PV
  Include portable solar panels
• Other
  Specify other preparations
  OR
• None of the above

• Households and the Environment Survey (HES)

• Results from the 2023 HES will be released in June 2025.

The Survey Series on First Nations People, Métis and Inuit (SSFNPMI) (Emergency Preparedness and Extreme Weather -EPEW: November 18 – December 15, 2024) asks related questions.

The SSFNPMI asks:
Do you or members of your household have an emergency exit plan for your home?

• Yes
• No

Have you or members of your household reviewed or practiced this emergency exit plan in the past 12 months?

• Yes
• No

Do you or members of your household currently have any of the following items in your home or vehicle in case of extreme weather events or natural disasters?

• A supply of stored drinking water for 3 days or more (i.e., 6 litres or more per person and water for pets
  e.g., water bottles, jugs)
• Non-perishable food for 3 days or more (i.e., enough food for all members of your household for 3 days, including pets)
• Cash to cover 3 days or more worth of expenses (e.g., for food, gas or propane, personal hygiene supplies, clothing)
• A supply of prescription or other medications to last 3 days or more
• A first aid kit (e.g., bandages, gauze, tape, thermometer, thermal blanket)
• Copies of important documents (e.g., passport, birth certificate, driver's licence, contact numbers)
• A battery-operated or wind-up radio
• Emergency lights (e.g., flashlights, chemical light sticks, candles)
• A power bank to charge electronics
• Backup fuel (e.g., diesel, gasoline, propane, naphtha, firewood)
• A portable or permanent backup generator
• Hunting, fishing or trapping equipment
• Other steps you or your household have taken to prepare for a natural disaster
• None of the above

Which of the following best represents how prepared you are for an extreme weather event or natural disaster?

• Extremely prepared
• Very prepared
• Somewhat prepared
• A little bit prepared
• Not prepared

How concerned are you about extreme weather events or natural disasters affecting you and members of your household?

• Extremely concerned
• Very concerned
• Somewhat concerned
• A little bit concerned
• Not concerned at all

Which extreme weather event or natural disaster are you most concerned about affecting you and members of your household?

• A winter storm (e.g., blizzard, ice storm, hail)
• A flood (e.g., from heavy rains or snowmelt)
• A wildfire or forest fire
• Extreme winds from tornados, hurricanes or other extreme events
• Extreme cold (i.e., when temperatures and wind chills are much lower than average)
• Extreme heat (i.e., when temperatures and humidity in the day and night are much hotter than average
  e.g., heat wave)
• A storm surge or tsunami
• A drought
• An earthquake
• A landslide or avalanche
• Other extreme weather event or natural disaster

The Canadian Social Survey (CSS) (Wave 6: July 15 – August 28, 2022 and Wave 7: October 21- December 4, 2022) ask related questions.

The CSS asks:

How concerned are you about the risk of a weather-related emergency or natural disaster affecting your household?

• Extremely concerned
• Very concerned
• Somewhat concerned
• A little bit concerned
• Not concerned at all

In the past 12 months, have you/has anyone in your household taken steps to prepare in the event of a weather-related emergency or natural disaster affecting your household?

• Yes
• No

In the past 12 months, have you helped others in your local community prepare in the event of a weather-related emergency or natural disaster affecting their household?

• Yes
• No

The infographic Preparing for weather-related emergencies in Canada presents data from these CSS questions (Statistics Canada – Infographics, June 1, 2023)

The StatsCAN Plus article Are Canadians prepared for the next natural disaster or weather-related emergency? presents data from these CSS questions (StatsCAN Plus, June 1, 2023)

There is also a question in the 2023 HES that is correlated to where households look for information about emergencies:

Where would you/your household expect to receive an alert for a natural disaster?

Select all that apply

• By phone notification
• From the TV
• On the Radio
• Social media
• On a sign on the highway while driving
• From a family member or friend
• An app
• A website
• Other
  Specify the other source of information

Data on household emergency preparedness were previously collected in the one-time 2014 Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience (SEPR). Data products from the 2014 SEPR are available at the following page: Related products – Survey of Emergency Preparedness and Resilience in Canada.