To share this page just click on the social network icon of your choice.
Questions and answers
What is the 72 hours campaign?
The "72 hours - Is your family prepared?" campaign recognizes that emergency preparedness is a shared responsibility, and encourages Canadians to be prepared to cope for at least the first 72 hours of an emergency. This will enable first responders - police, fire, paramedics and other emergency workers - to focus on those in urgent need.
The campaign was launched in 2006 by Public Safety Canada in collaboration with the Canadian Red Cross, St. John Ambulance, and The Salvation Army. The campaign asks Canadians to take practical steps to prepare for emergencies - an initiative that goes to the heart of Public Safety's mandate. Specifically, Canadians are encouraged to:
Know the risks - Although the consequences of disasters can be similar, knowing the risks specific to our community and our region can help us better prepare.
Make a plan - Every Canadian household needs an emergency plan. It will help you and your family know what to do if disaster strikes. We should all practice what to do in different emergency situations.
Get a kit - During an emergency, we will all need some basic supplies. We may need to get by without power or tap water. We should all be prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.
Public Safety Canada has been working closely with the provinces and territories, non-government organizations, and other key partners, to create a comprehensive social marketing program on emergency preparedness.
This includes advertising, a partnerships program, a website, an exhibits program, and more. The program is constantly looking to extend reach and impact, with the goal of empowering partners, community groups, and Canadians at large to prepare for emergencies and to help sustain the campaign over the long term.
Why should people be prepared for 72 hours?
The 72 hours preparedness message is a common standard used across North America by first responders (fire, police, paramedics), all levels of government and non-government relief organizations. They have first-hand knowledge that 72 hours is the length of time it takes to mobilize a relief effort in a significant way.
For example, the Ministère de la sécurité publique website urges readers to do the same: "be self sufficient for three days" and like the federal campaign, "have a kit". Major cities in North America as well as provinces, territories and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security all have similar messages for the public.
First responders must focus on those in urgent need and those whose lives are in immediate danger. To support these efforts and not burden emergency workers, those who are able to prepare have a responsibility to do so.
Why was the 72 hours campaign launched?
A number of factors led to the development of the campaign, including:
Events such as Hurricane Juan in Nova Scotia (2003), floods in Alberta and Newfoundland (2005) and winter storms in British Columbia (2006-07) demonstrated that hazards can occur with little notice and lasting consequences.
In recent years, disasters have forced four million Canadians from their homes and caused billions of dollars of damage, to say nothing of suffering and hardship endured.
The number and intensity of weather-related emergencies appeared to be on the rise in the last several years, in part due to climate change.
At the same time, research showed that Canadians' personal preparedness levels ranged from moderate to low; only a small minority of Canadians had make a family emergency plan or got an emergency kit.
Research also showed that those ready when a disaster strikes are better able to deal with the situation psychologically and recover more quickly from the challenges afterwards.
Recognizing the important role of the individual in emergency preparedness, a comprehensive social marketing program was accordingly developed. It is being implemented in collaboration with public safety partners, with a long-term goal of creating a culture of preparedness in Canada.
Emergency preparedness is everyone's responsibility. We cannot predict emergencies, but we can - and should - prepare for them.
Is the advertising campaign a success?
Yes. As a result of the advertising, more Canadians plan to or already have taken action. 43% of Canadians say they have a kit, which represents a 13% increase over the previous year. Research shows that one in five Canadians who saw the advertising say that they took some action as a result of seeing the ads, such as buying bottled water or preparing an emergency kit.
An increasing majority of Canadians believe that having an emergency kit is a necessary part of ensuring their family’s safety (75% - up 7 points from the previous year). Those who saw the advertising are more likely to engage in emergency preparedness behaviors: 35% of Canadians intend to put together an emergency kit - an increase of 11% over last year, and 45% plan to improve or enlarge their kit - an increase of 10%.
Since the "72 hours" campaign was launched in 2006, close to 1 million people have visited the GetPrepared.ca website. More than 2.5 million Emergency Preparedness Guides have been distributed via the provinces, territories, and other partners. A further 420,000 guides have been ordered from 1 800 O Canada, as well as another 300,000 downloaded from the website.
We also know from participating in events such as the Canada Pavilion at major exhibits and fairs across Canada that people are hearing the message and taking action.
What is Public Safety Canada's role in emergencies?
All levels of Government in Canada are involved in preparing for and responding to emergencies or disasters. Municipal governments respond to local emergencies; provincial and territorial governments respond to emergencies within their borders, but may request federal government assistance, if required.
At the federal level, where assistance is requested - or should the emergency involve more than one province or territory - the Government of Canada will mobilize its resources.
For most emergencies, Public Safety Canada coordinates the Government of Canada response.
Public Safety Canada also works with the provinces, territories and other partners on public awareness campaigns about getting prepared for emergencies, such as Canada's annual Emergency Preparedness Week.
Public Safety Canada also houses the Canadian Emergency Management College - a federal government learning institution providing programs and resources to the emergency management community and first responders across Canada.
Why not simply invest in emergency programs instead of advertising?
The Government of Canada, in consultation and co-operation with provincial and territorial governments, contributes to emergency preparedness and critical infrastructure protection projects and initiatives. Whether it is through training, the purchase of emergency response equipment, for emergency planning or for capacity building, this shared investment is aimed at reducing injuries and loss of human life, property damage, and assuring the continuation of our critical services in an emergency.
Since the inception of JEPP, the Government of Canada has committed over $155 million to the provinces and territories. Currently, approximately $8.4 million is made available annually for emergency preparedness, Urban Search and Rescue and critical infrastructure protection projects from coast to coast.
In addition, the Government of Canada, through the Disaster Financial Assistance Arrangements (DFAA), provides support to provinces and territories for their eligible disaster response and recovery expenses which exceed what they might reasonably be expected to bear on their own. Since the beginning of the DFAA in 1970, the Government of Canada has provided over $1.8 billion in disaster financial assistance to provinces and territories.
At the same time, the more Canadians are prepared for an emergency and able to sustain themselves and their families for at least 72 hours, the less pressure there will be on the emergency response community when an event happens. This will enable first responders, such as police and firefighters, to focus on those in immediate danger.
What is Emergency Preparedness Week?
Emergency Preparedness (EP) Week is an annual event that occurs in the first full week of May to promote public awareness of emergency preparedness. It is a national event involving all levels of government, as well as non-governmental organizations, the private sector and volunteer organizations.
Provincial and territorial government involvement is essential to the success of EP Week activities, as they are responsible for emergency preparedness at the community level and coordinate activities within their province or territory.
Activities usually occur at the municipal level and typically involve emergency responders, volunteer organizations, non-governmental organizations, the media and educational institutions.
The federal, provincial and territorial governments adopted the concept of EP Week in 1995 to promote activities that increase Canadians' emergency preparedness. The first Emergency Preparedness Week took place in 1996.
The theme of EP Week this year is "72 hours - is your family prepared?" If a disaster happens in your community, it may take rescue workers some time to get to you as they help those in urgent need.
What are some common natural hazards in Canada?
Canada is a vast country with extreme weather conditions and dramatic geological features. With its size, weather patterns and varied regions come several natural hazards, including:
Avalanches: Hundreds of thousands of avalanches occur in Canada each year. They happen in all regions of Canada, but are more frequent in the mountains of British Columbia, Yukon and Alberta.
Earthquakes: British Columbia is the region most at risk from a major earthquake. Other areas prone to earthquakes are the St. Lawrence and Ottawa River valleys, as well as parts of the three northern territories.
Floods: Floods in Canada can occur at any time of the year and are most often caused by heavy rainfall, rapid melting of a thick snow pack, ice jams, or more rarely, the failure of a natural or man-made dam.
Hurricanes: Hurricanes occasionally hit eastern Canada usually between June and November - September is the peak month.
Landslides: Thousands of landslides occur every year in Canada, but most are small. They occur in all regions but are most damaging in the mountainous regions of British Columbia and Alberta and in the St. Lawrence Lowlands of Quebec and Ontario.
Severe storms: Thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, ice storms, high winds and heavy rain can develop quickly and threaten life and property. Severe storms occur in all regions of Canada and in all seasons.
Storm surge: A storm surge can occur along all coastal areas of Canada at any time of the year. It can also occur along large lakes, such as the Great Lakes.
Tornadoes: Tornadoes are relatively common in Canada, but only in specific regions: southern Alberta; Manitoba and Saskatchewan; southern Ontario; southern Quebec; the interior of British Columbia; and western New Brunswick.
Wildfires: Approximately 8,000 wildfires occur each year in Canada. The average area burned in Canada is 2.5 million ha/year. Wildfires are a natural hazard in any forested and grassland region in Canada. The regions with the highest wildfire occurrence are British Columbia, and the Boreal forest zones of Ontario, Quebec, the Prairie provinces, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories.