Being storm-ready: How to prepare for a hurricane in Atlantic Canada

During hurricane season, it pays to be prepared in Atlantic Canada.

Here are tips to be ready if you're hit with strong winds, rain and everything else a hurricane or tropical storm can bring.

Emergency kit essentials

Here are some items to gather to prepare for the storm:

• Drinking water, including two litres of water per person per day. If you have pets, make sure to take them into consideration.
• Non-perishable food: Stock up on foodyou can eat without cooking unless you have a wood stove, barbecue or camping stove including items such as canned food, energy bars anddried foods.
• Pet food.
• Manual can opener.
• Essentials for babies, including diapers and formula.
• Essential prescription medications.
• First-aid kit.
• Battery-powered or windup flashlights and radio.
• Cash.
• Charging banks for phones.
• Extra batteries.
• A full tank of gas for vehicles.

Here are some other things to consider doingto prepare:

• Fill your bathtubwith enough water for bathing or to flush the toilet in case the power to your water system goes out.
• Charge your devices.
• Have duct tape and tarp on hand in case a window breaks.
• Make sure there are books and games for kids.
• Use candles with caution, as they can present a fire risk. Never leave a burning candle unattended.
• Park your vehicle away from trees.
• Secure gates, doors and windows.
• Keep your pets inside.
• Moveany type of watercraft to highground.
• Before the storm hits, secureany loose objects outside such as patio furniture, garbage cans orplants.

Make sure you have handy the phone number to report outages in your area if you lose power. You can also bookmark your province's outage map on your mobile phone to check, as long as you havedata or wifi.

• Nova Scotia Power: 1-877-428-6004 (outage map)
• NB Power: 1-800-663-6272 (outage map)
• Newfoundland Power: 1-800-474-5711 (outage map)
• Newfoundland Hydro: 1-888-737-1296 (outage map)
• PEI's Maritime Electric:1-800-670-1012 (outage map)