Practical prepping for life on the Prairies
Out here, we know a storm can change the day’s plans pretty quickly. A blizzard, ice storm, wildfire or extended power outage can leave us without the things we usually take for granted: heat, running water, groceries, fuel, internet and a working credit card.
“Prepping” might bring to mind bunkers and a basement full of survival gear. But for most families, it starts with a much simpler question:
Could we look after ourselves if everyday services stopped working for a few days? What about a week or two?
A little preparation today can make a difficult situation much easier to manage.
Start with three days. Build from there.
Public Safety Canada recommends being prepared to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours. Think of that as your starting point.
Once you have the basics, consider gradually building toward seven to fourteen days of essential supplies, especially if you live on an acreage, farm or somewhere a blocked road could delay help or deliveries.
You don’t need to buy everything at once. Add a few useful items each grocery trip, and focus on what your household actually uses.
Water comes first
On an acreage, losing power can mean losing your well pump, too. Even in town, a water interruption or advisory can complicate things quickly.
A useful planning target is four litres per person per day: two for drinking and two more for basic cooking and cleaning. Heat, illness and individual needs may require more. Remember pets, too.
For a family of four, that works out to:
- Three days: 48 litres
- Seven days: 112 litres
- Fourteen days: 224 litres
That adds up quickly, so think about storage space and a safe resupply plan.
Use sealed bottled water or clean containers intended for drinking-water storage. Keep them somewhere cool, away from chemicals and protected from freezing. Label containers and follow storage and replacement instructions.
Prairie tip: Keep drinking water separate from utility water. Water set aside in a bathtub before an anticipated outage may help with toilet flushing, where the plumbing system allows, but it isn’t your drinking-water supply.
Build a pantry you’ll actually eat
The best emergency food is familiar, easy to prepare and useful even when the stove won’t turn on.
Good options include:
- Canned chicken, tuna, beans, vegetables and fruit
- Ready-to-eat canned meals, including options safe to eat without heating
- Peanut butter or another suitable spread
- Crackers, nuts, dried fruit and granola bars
- Shelf-stable milk and foods that meet your family’s dietary needs
- Baby supplies and pet food, where needed
Oatmeal, rice and pasta can help stretch your pantry, but they also require water and a safe way to cook. Include plenty of food that needs neither.
Don’t forget a manual can opener. A cupboard full of cans won’t help much if the opener needs electricity.
Buy a little extra of what you already eat, use the oldest items first and replace them as you go. Choose package sizes you can finish without needing refrigeration for leftovers.
Have a cooking plan—and keep it safe
A barbecue or camping stove can be useful when the kitchen is out of service. Keep the right fuel available and learn how the equipment works before you need it.
Outdoor cooking equipment stays outdoors. Never bring a barbecue, charcoal grill or outdoor camping stove into the house, garage or another enclosed space. Never use a gas oven to heat your home.
Plan for bad weather, too. If your cooking setup is unusable in a blizzard, your no-cook food becomes especially valuable.
Jerry cans and generators: useful with a plan
Keeping your vehicle reasonably fuelled gives you options if pumps are unavailable or you need to leave.
If you store extra gasoline:
- Use approved fuel containers, clearly labelled for their contents.
- Keep only what you can safely and legally store.
- Follow local fire rules and container instructions.
- Store it away from living spaces, heat and ignition sources in an appropriate, well-ventilated location.
- Rotate fuel according to equipment and fuel guidance.
A generator can help keep essential equipment running, but know which loads it can handle. Your well pump, furnace and freezer may have very different power requirements.
Operate fuel-burning portable generators outdoors, at least six metres from buildings, with exhaust directed away from doors, windows and vents. A garage with the door open is still an unsafe location. Shut the generator down and let it cool before refuelling.
If you want a generator connected to your home’s electrical system, have a licensed electrical contractor install the proper connection and transfer equipment. Never feed generator power into a household wall outlet.
Plan for heat, light and communication
Many Prairie furnaces burn natural gas but still need electricity to operate. Know what your heating system can do during an outage.
Keep warm layers, blankets, sleeping bags, flashlights, headlamps, spare batteries, charged power banks and a battery-powered or crank radio accessible. Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and make sure they have working backup power.
Have a backup destination: family, friends or an available warming centre. Decide early when you’ll leave if the house becomes unsafe. Follow evacuation orders and local emergency instructions.
For anyone who relies on powered medical equipment or refrigerated medication, arrange a specific backup plan with their healthcare provider.
Protect the food in your fridge and freezer
Keep the doors closed as much as possible. Health Canada advises that an unopened refrigerator generally stays cold for about four hours. A full freezer can hold frozen food for about 48 hours; a half-full freezer, about 24.
Keep appliance thermometers inside so you can check temperatures. Don’t taste food to decide whether it’s safe, and don’t assume the snowbank is a reliable freezer.
If food must be discarded, take photos and make a list for any potential insurance claim. Don’t keep unsafe food just to document it.
Remember the everyday essentials
A few easily overlooked items can make a big difference:
- Prescription medications and a printed medication list
- First-aid supplies, hygiene products, toilet paper and garbage bags
- Some cash in small bills
- Printed emergency contacts and insurance information
- A simple family communication and meeting plan
- A portable bag with essentials in case you need to leave
Know where your main water shutoff is. If you may need to leave an unheated home, get advice beforehand on protecting your particular plumbing and heating systems.
Check on neighbours, especially anyone living alone. On the Prairies, looking out for each other is part of being prepared.
One last piece of prep: your insurance
Supplies help you get through the disruption. Insurance can help with the financial protections surrounding your household.
Home, tenant or condo insurance: Ask about food spoilage, frozen pipes, sewer backup and additional living expenses. Coverage depends on your policy and the circumstances; a power outage alone does not automatically mean a hotel stay or lost groceries will be covered. Ask what precautions your policy requires when you’re away during heating season.
Life insurance: Take a moment to consider how your family would manage financially if you were no longer there. Review your coverage, beneficiaries and where the policy details are kept. It belongs alongside the other plans you make for the people who depend on you.
At Prairie Insurance, we’re happy to help you review your coverage and understand what to expect before something happens.
Start small this week: a few extra pantry staples, stored water, a working flashlight and a conversation with your family. Being prepared is easier when you build it into everyday life.