Town alerts
Check active local notices from the Town of Watson Lake notification system.
Emergency updates
Check active Town of Watson Lake alerts through Voyent Alert! | Register for Watson Lake notifications | Follow Yukon Protective Services, the Town of Watson Lake, and Watson Lake Fire Department for public updates | Check 511 Yukon before travelling | In an emergency, call 911.
Town of Watson Lake Preparedness Hub
Be Prepared
A one-stop guide for emergency updates, household planning, emergency kits, pet supplies, vehicle preparedness, and trusted Yukon information sources.
Live information sources
Where to check for updates
During an emergency, use official sources first. Social media embeds may not load in every browser, so direct buttons are included under each feed.
Yukon updates
Find Yukon-wide emergency information including wildfires, floods, earthquakes, road closures, weather alerts, and air quality advisories.
Roads & travel
Before travelling the Alaska Highway or other Yukon roads, check road conditions, closures, construction, and travel advisories.
Emergency help
For immediate danger, call 911. Emergency messages may also interrupt radio, television, and compatible cellphones through AlertReady.
Social update feeds
Swipe or scroll sideways to view the three feeds. Use the yellow buttons if an embedded feed does not display.
Know when to stay or go
Follow official instructions
Different emergencies require different actions. You may be told to shelter in place, prepare to leave, or evacuate immediately.
Shelter in place
Stay indoors when it is safer to remain where you are than to travel. This may happen during hazardous smoke, severe weather, chemical spills, or fast-moving incidents.
- Bring people and pets inside.
- Close windows, doors, vents, and fireplace dampers when instructed.
- Keep phones charged and listen for official updates.
- Use your emergency kit and avoid unnecessary travel.
Evacuation alert
An alert means you should be ready to leave on short notice. Pack early so you are not rushing if the situation changes.
- Fuel your vehicle and park facing outward.
- Pack medications, documents, pets, chargers, food, water, and warm clothing.
- Contact household members and confirm meeting places.
- Check on neighbours who may need help.
Evacuation order
An order means leave immediately unless authorities tell you otherwise. Do not wait to see if conditions improve.
- Take your grab-and-go kit, pets, keys, wallet, and phone.
- Follow the route or instructions provided by emergency officials.
- Register with reception or emergency support services if directed.
- Do not return until officials say it is safe.
Build your first emergency preparedness kit
Pack the essentials first
Emergencies are easier to manage when the basics are already packed. Keep supplies in an easy-to-carry container and review your kit regularly.
Your essentials
- Water: at least 4 litres per person per day
- Non-perishable food for people and pets
- Manual can opener
- First-aid kit
- Prescription and over-the-counter medication
- Flashlight or lantern
- Extra batteries
- Battery-powered or crank radio
- Phone charging cables and power banks
- Cash in small bills and coins
- Copies of identification and insurance documents
- Personal hygiene supplies
Family support tools
- Warm clothing for the season
- Rain gear, ponchos, jackets, and spare shoes
- Sleeping bags, blankets, or emergency blankets
- Candles and candle holder
- Lighter or waterproof matches
- Pocket knife or multi-tool
- Work gloves
- Duct tape
- Pen, notebook, and printed contact list
- Copies of emergency plans
- Small toys, cards, books, or comfort items
- Sanitation bags, wipes, and paper towels
Your personal carry
- Wallet, keys, and phone
- Glasses, hearing aids, and spare batteries
- Medication list and prescription copies
- Important phone numbers written on paper
- Change of clothing and socks
- Reusable water bottle
- Hand sanitizer and masks
- Toilet paper and personal hygiene items
- Snacks for children and adults
- Copies of pet records and photos
Your documents
- Personal identification
- Birth and marriage certificates
- Passports, citizenship papers, and immigration documents
- Health cards and medication information
- Home, auto, life, and pet insurance details
- Banking and credit card information
- Emergency plan and household contact card
- Recent family and pet photos
- Digital backup on a password-protected drive
Pet-specific considerations
Plan for every animal in your household
Preparedness is different for every pet. Adapt this information to fit your pet's needs, temperament, size, and health conditions.
All pets
- Food and water for 7 to 14 days, plus bowls and a manual can opener if needed.
- Pet first-aid kit, medications, prescriptions, and vet records.
- Crate, carrier, leash, harness, collar, and identification tags.
- Recent photo of you with your pet to help prove ownership.
- Blankets, towels, bedding, toys, and comfort items.
- Waste bags, litter, disinfectant, paper towels, and cleaning supplies.
- Emergency contact for a friend, neighbour, kennel, or pet-friendly accommodation.
Pet first-aid kit
- Muzzle or soft restraint, even for friendly pets who may panic.
- Protective gloves, antiseptic wipes, and antibacterial soap.
- Hydrogen peroxide 3% only if directed by a veterinarian or poison control.
- Stretch bandage, vet wrap, gauze pads, adhesive tape, cotton swabs, and non-stick wound dressings.
- Saline rinse, syringe, tweezers, bandage scissors, and instant cold packs.
- Lubricant, antihistamine guidance from your vet, and emergency vet contact numbers.
Dogs
- Toys or comfort items and treats.
- Muzzle, leash, harness, and collar.
- Booties or paw protection for hot, cold, rough, or debris-covered ground.
- Extra towels for drying and warmth.
- Proof of vaccinations and any special diet instructions.
Cats
- Hard-sided carrier with bedding.
- Litter, tray, scoop, waste bags, and wipes.
- Harness and leash for controlled movement outside the carrier.
- Toys, comfort blanket, and familiar scent item.
- Extra food for stress-sensitive or prescription diets.
Birds
- Cage or carrier and a blanket to cover the cage.
- Spray bottle to moisten feathers if appropriate for your bird.
- If there is no perch, line the carrier with paper towels that can be changed often.
- Keep the carrier in a quiet area when possible.
- Consider a timed feeder if separation could interrupt feeding.
Reptiles
- Pillowcase, ventilated container, or permanent housing for transportation.
- Soaking bowl and species-appropriate humidity needs.
- Heating pad or safe heat source; avoid direct contact burns.
- Thermometer, thermostat if available, and backup plan for power loss.
- Food, water, and handling instructions for caregivers.
Small animals
- Hamsters, gerbils, mice, guinea pigs, and similar pets should travel in secure carriers.
- Bedding materials, food, food bowls, and water bottle.
- Salt lick or mineral block if normally used.
- Hide box, tube, chew items, and comfort bedding.
- Keep carriers away from drafts, heat extremes, and loud noise.
Fish and aquariums
- Battery air pump and spare batteries.
- Water conditioner and small transport containers.
- Plan for power outages that affect heat, filtration, and oxygen.
- Do not overfeed before leaving; water quality can worsen quickly.
- Write down care instructions for someone checking your home.
Vehicle-specific considerations
Pack for Yukon travel
Before travelling, check road conditions, weather, and fuel. In remote areas, delays can last longer than expected, so keep vehicle supplies close at hand.
Vehicle emergency kit
- Non-perishable food and potable water
- Blankets or emergency/survival blanket
- Candle in deep can with matches or lighter
- Weather-appropriate extra clothing
- Extra shoes or boots
- Seatbelt cutter and window-break tool
- First-aid kit and medications
- Small shovel, ice scraper, and snow brush
- Warning flares, reflective triangles, or road lights
- Battery or crank radio
- Flashlight or headlamp
- Phone cable and charger compatible with your vehicle
- Whistle and bright cloth or marker
- Hand sanitizer, wipes, tissue, and toilet paper
- Emergency contact list
- Comfort items such as cards, books, or small games
Additional vehicle tools
- Sand, salt, or non-clumping cat litter for traction
- Jumper cables or battery booster
- Road map or offline map download
- Copy of your emergency plan
- Fire extinguisher
- Duct tape
- Tow strap if appropriate for your vehicle
- Tire pressure gauge and portable inflator
- Spare windshield washer fluid rated for winter
- Antifreeze appropriate for your vehicle
- Extra pet leash or carrier if travelling with animals
- Spare prescription glasses or medical supplies if needed
Before you go
- Check 511 Yukon and weather alerts before leaving.
- Tell someone where you are going, your route, and when you expect to arrive.
- Travel during daylight when possible.
- Keep your fuel tank topped up, especially before remote stretches.
- Do not drive into flooded roads, washouts, heavy smoke, or closed routes.
Weather-specific emergency situations
Prepare for harsh weather
Yukon weather can change quickly. Review your home and vehicle kits before travelling, especially during storms, wildfire smoke, extreme cold, and heavy rain.
Avoid driving if possible. If stuck, stay with your vehicle, call for help, keep a window slightly open for fresh air, and clear snow around the exhaust.
Go indoors or inside a hard-topped vehicle. Stay away from windows, plumbing, metal objects, and open areas.
Avoid underpasses, low-lying areas, and moving water. Never drive through flooded roads or unknown water depth.
Pull off the road safely, avoid trees and power lines, and protect your head and eyes. Hail can collect in low areas and make roads slippery.
Limit outdoor activity, keep indoor air cleaner where possible, and follow health and air quality advisories.
Layer clothing, conserve heat, prevent pipes from freezing when safe to do so, and use generators or fuel-burning heaters only with proper ventilation.
Communication plan
Plan how your household will stay connected
A communication plan is not just a form. It is a simple set of decisions your household makes before an emergency so everyone knows where to get updates, who to contact, and where to meet if you are separated.
Why this matters
Emergencies can interrupt routines, separate family members, overload phone networks, or make travel unsafe. A written plan helps everyone act from the same information instead of guessing under stress.
- Choose one local meeting place and one neighbourhood meeting place.
- Choose an out-of-town contact who can receive updates from everyone.
- Write down contacts in case a phone is lost, dead, or locked.
- Make a pickup plan for children, pets, elders, or anyone needing assistance.
What to keep handy
Keep copies of your plan where people can actually find them: near the door, in a vehicle, in a work bag, and inside your grab-and-go kit. Review it whenever phone numbers, school or work routines, medications, or pet-care needs change.
- Household names, phone numbers, and usual daytime locations.
- Primary, secondary, and out-of-town emergency contacts.
- Medication, mobility, accessibility, and medical-equipment notes.
- Official update links, radio options, and local alert-registration details.
Before an emergency
- Register for Watson Lake notifications and save the active-alerts page.
- Talk through shelter-in-place, evacuation alert, and evacuation order scenarios.
- Charge backup batteries and keep a printed copy of key contacts.
- Make sure children and visitors know who to call and where to meet.
During an emergency
- Follow instructions from emergency officials and use official sources first.
- Send short texts when networks are busy and keep calls brief.
- Conserve phone battery by lowering screen brightness and closing unused apps.
- Do not repost rumours, screenshots, or unconfirmed instructions.
After an emergency
- Check in with your household and out-of-town contact.
- Do not return to an evacuated area until officials say it is safe.
- Watch for re-entry, road, water, power, health, and recovery updates.
- Update the plan and restock supplies while the experience is fresh.
Printable household communication plan
Use the one-page printable plan for the fillable contact card, emergency contacts, meeting places, pickup plan, medication or mobility notes, and official information sources. Upload the Word or PDF document to the website, then replace the placeholder link below with that document URL.
Official updates
Road, weather, fire, and flood
Alert systems and preparedness
This page is an information hub for preparedness and trusted sources. During an emergency, follow instructions from emergency officials and call 911 if there is immediate danger.