Your basic emergency kit should include:

Water – one gallon per person per day
Food – ready to eat or requiring minimal water
Manual can opener and other cooking supplies
Plates, utensils and other feeding supplies
First Aid kit & instructions
A copy of important documents & phone numbers
Warm clothes and rain gear for each family member.
Heavy work gloves
Disposable camera
Unscented liquid household bleach and an eyedropper for water purification
Personal hygiene items including toilet paper, feminine supplies, hand sanitizer and soap
Plastic sheeting, duct tape and utility knife for covering broken windows
Tools such as a crowbar, hammer & nails, staple gun, adjustable wrench and bungee cords.
Blanket or sleeping bag
Large heavy duty plastic bags and a plastic bucket for waste and sanitation
Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget water and supplies for your pets.
A component of your disaster kit is your Go-bag. Put the following items together in a backpack or another easy to carry container in case you must evacuate quickly. Prepare one Go-bag for each family member and make sure each has an I.D. tag. You may not be at home when an emergency strikes so keep some additional supplies in your car and at work, considering what you would need for your immediate safety.

Flashlight
Radio – battery operated
Batteries
Whistle
Dust mask
Pocket knife
Emergency cash in small denominations and quarters for phone calls
Sturdy shoes, a change of clothes, and a warm hat
Local map
Some water and food
Permanent marker, paper and tape
Photos of family members and pets for re-identification purposes
List of emergency point-of -contact phone numbers
List of allergies to any drug (especially antibiotics) or food
Copy of health insurance and identification cards
Extra prescription eye glasses, hearing aid or other vital personal items
Prescription medications and first aid supplies
Toothbrush and toothpaste
Extra keys to your house and vehicle
Any special-needs items for children, seniors or people with disabilities. Don’t forget to make a Go-bag for your pets.

I'm looking at picking up 3 or 4 of those yo-yo automatic springloaded fishing reels. I've seen some videos of them being used as snare traps as well and they seem like they would be a very useful addition.

Basically you just set them and come back in a few hours to see if they've caught a fish or small animal.

Does anyone have any experience with these? If so... Are they worth the few bucks to have, and do they seem reliable and durable?

I purchased a few and they are well made and durable. I have not used them as they don't fit legal requirements at this time... but I have every confidence they will perform as advertised if the need arises.

JAB

oh they are illigal? are they still available for purchase in Canada, or do you have to order them online?

The legality will depend on your jurisdiction and the hunting and fishing laws there. I most places it is illegal to have an unattended fishing line. Regarding snares..:"Snares cannot be used for hunting, except by the holder of a
resident small game licence taking varying hares north of the
French and Mattawa rivers with a snare constructed of copper or
brass wire between 22 and 24 gauge. The opening of the snare
wire loop must be 10 cm (4 in.) or less in diameter.
Licensed trappers may use snares under conditions specified
in the trapping regulations."
Your area may be different.

JAB