👨‍👩‍👧 Family Plan

About 20 minutes.

The checklist

• Choose one out-of-area contact everyone calls or texts to check in.

  Local lines often jam during emergencies; long-distance calls usually go through. One central contact relays status to the rest of the family.

• Pick a near meeting place (a neighbour's, end of the driveway, mailbox).

  For small emergencies where you just need to regroup nearby.

• Pick a far meeting place outside the immediate area (a relative's, a gas station, a community centre).

  For evacuations where the home or whole neighbourhood is unsafe.

• Add an ICE (In Case of Emergency) contact to every phone.

  First responders look for ICE entries on locked phones to reach family.

• Make sure children know their address, parents' full names, and a phone number.

  Practice it. Carry a card in their backpack with the same info.

• Map a primary evacuation route and at least one backup.

  Roads close. Knowing two ways out before you need them saves critical minutes.

• Know your kids' school or daycare reunification plan.

  Most schools shelter in place or move children to a designated reception site. Find out which.

• List the medication and medical needs of each family member.

  Include allergies, conditions (asthma, diabetes), medical devices, and dosages.

• Decide who is responsible for which pet and where pets will go.

  Reception centres do not always accept pets — pre-arrange a pet-friendly hotel or boarding option.

• Walk through the plan with the whole household once a year.

  A 10-minute conversation around a kitchen table is enough. Update for new pets, new schools, new addresses.

Sources

This checklist mirrors public guidance from the agencies below. Always confirm current conditions with the agency that issued them before you act.

• FireSmart Canada
• Canadian Red Cross
• PreparedBC
• Firewise USA / NFPA
• Ready.gov — Wildfires

Last reviewed April 17, 2026.