A Train Derails
On November 10, 1979, a Canadian Pacific freight train was travelling through Mississauga when it lost a wheel.
Twenty-four rail cars derailed.
The problem was what some of those cars were carrying.
According to the City of Mississauga, the derailed cars carried six dangerous ingredients: propane, caustic soda, styrene, toluene, fibreglass insulation and chlorine.
Then came the explosion.
The flammable liquids and vapours caused a massive explosion. The City says flames reached more than 1,500 metres into the sky and could be seen more than 100 kilometres away.
For people living nearby, an ordinary night had suddenly become an emergency.
Then Came the Evacuation
Authorities had another problem beyond the fire: hazardous materials.
Evacuations began about two hours after the explosion and expanded as officials responded to the danger.
Eventually, more than 240,000 Mississauga residents were evacuated.
Think about that number.
Not 240 people.
Not 2,400.
More than 240,000 people had to leave their homes.
Highways became congested. Families were displaced. Animals were left behind. Many residents couldn't return home for a week.
Yet something extraordinary happened.
Despite the scale of the derailment, explosions, hazardous materials and evacuation, the City says there were no lives lost or serious injuries.
That's why the disaster became known as the Mississauga Miracle.
Now Imagine It Happened Tonight
Emergencies can happen at any time and without warning.
The Government of Canada identifies hazards including floods, wildfires and hazardous-material releases among the emergencies Canadians may face.
So imagine receiving an evacuation alert tonight.
What would you grab?
Could you immediately find everyone's identification?
What about prescription medications?
Your children's necessities?
Pet food and medication?
Phone chargers?
Car and house keys?
And if you couldn't return home for three days — would you have everything you needed?
That's where the 1979 story remains relevant today.
Canada's Advice: Be Ready for at Least 72 Hours
The Government of Canada recommends households prepare to stay safe and comfortable for at least three days — 72 hours — whether evacuating or sheltering in place.
An emergency kit should be easy to take with you and easy to access.
Among the recommended items are water, non-perishable food, flashlights, a radio, batteries, a first-aid kit, phone chargers and power banks, some cash, identification and important documents.
Families should also think about needs that aren't universal: prescription medications, baby supplies, pet food and medication, eyeglasses and medical equipment.
Just as importantly, Canadians are advised to have a household emergency plan.
The Government says a household emergency plan can help people act quickly, stay connected and reduce stress when it matters most.
The Lesson Mississauga Left Behind
The remarkable part of the 1979 derailment isn't simply that a train crashed.
It's what happened afterward.
A city faced explosions, dangerous materials and the enormous logistical challenge of moving hundreds of thousands of people — without the catastrophe becoming a mass-casualty event.
For Canadians today, the lesson is surprisingly simple:
Don't wait for an evacuation alert to decide what you're taking.
Prepare the bag.
Know where the documents are.
Have a family plan.
Because if an ordinary night suddenly becomes an emergency, the worst time to start preparing is after you're told to leave.