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How to Conduct an Emergency Drill
Emergencies can happen quickly. The best way to stay safe is to practice what to do before something happens. This is called a drill: a practice run that helps everyone in your home know what to do in a fire, earthquake, or power outage.
In shared living homes, where someone may need extra support, drills help everyone feel more confident and calmer.
Why Emergency Drills Matter (and How to Make Them Inclusive)
Drills help:
- Teach what to do when something goes wrong
- Give people with disabilities a chance to practice at their own pace
- Reduce fear or confusion during real emergencies
Example: Sam supports Jayden, who has autism and lives in a shared home in Vancouver. Jayden gets nervous with loud noises and sudden changes. So instead of a surprise drill, Sam used a calendar and pictures to help Jayden understand what they were practicing and why. Now Jayden knows exactly what to do if the fire alarm goes off, and feels proud about it!
Step 1: Prepare Your Household
Before starting a drill:
- Choose which type of emergency you’re practicing (fire, earthquake, flood, etc.)
- Set a time and day
- Explain what will happen and what each person should do
- Talk about why you’re practicing, it’s to help everyone stay safe!
Make sure everyone knows their role.
- Who helps grab the emergency kit?
- Who calls for help?
- Where will you all meet?
Step 2: Practice the Drill
Here’s how to run different types of drills:
Fire Drill
- Say “Fire! Time to go!”
- Leave the home using your planned exit
- Meet at your agreed safe place (like the sidewalk or mailbox)
- Time how long it takes and check if you forgot anything
Earthquake Drill
- Shout “Earthquake! Drop, Cover, and Hold On!”
- Get under a sturdy table or against an inside wall
- Count to 60 or wait for a pretend “all clear”
- Check for pretend hazards like broken glass or blocked doors
Shelter-in-Place Drill (for storms or smoke)
- Close windows and doors
- Go to a safe room (interior room, no windows)
- Check emergency supplies and communication plan
Local Help: Download Vancouver’s emergency preparedness guide for extra safety tips based on your neighbourhood.
Step 3: Debrief and Improve
After the drill:
- Sit down together and talk
- What went well?
- What was confusing or hard?
- Did anyone feel anxious? What helped?
- Update your plan based on what you learned
Example: After a shelter-in-place drill, Sam and Jayden realized their safe room had no bottled water. They added it to their emergency kit the next day.
Step 4: Keep Drills Calm and Supportive
Emergency drills don’t need to be scary. Here are ways to keep them low stress:
- Use calm voices and encouragement
- Practice short parts before doing a full drill
- Let the person you support take part in planning (choose the meeting spot, pack the kit)
- Celebrate success, even small steps matter!
Bonus Tip: Try to repeat drills every few months. Familiarity builds confidence and safety.
Local Resources
- City of Vancouver Emergency Hub Map – Find your local Disaster Support Hub
- PreparedBC Emergency Plan Tools – Templates, checklists, and plain-language guides
- Disability Alliance BC – Emergency preparedness for people with disabilities
- Alertable App – Get real-time emergency alerts on your phone