Receiving news of an emerging weather emergency in your neighbourhood can be unsettling.
While the thunderstorm that rolled in over the May long weekend may have caught many of us by surprise – some received little to no warning – it was a reminder that we should all have a plan in place for any type of emergency.
Planning reminders & tips
As the saying goes, hope for the best, prepare for the worst. It’s always
better to over prepare, than under prepare, for any situation. We’ve put
together a list of helpful information on what you and your family can do
to stay safe before, during and after a storm.
Get tips
Create an emergency plan:
Get the entire family involved and identify a designated, enclosed space in
your home. Make sure everyone knows where it is. Keep emergency supplies
within the space or somewhere easily accessible.
Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit:
Include items such as non-perishable foods, a manual can opener, drinking
water (2 litres per person, per day), batteries, flashlights, a
battery-powered radio, a first aid kit, blankets, cash, a mobile phone,
prescriptions, pet food, and any necessary medical supplies.
Get outage checklist
Keep your cell charged:
Your cell phone becomes an essential piece of technology during an outage.
Make sure it’s fully charged and use it for outage updates and to check on
loved ones. Don’t use a landline during a storm because you can get an
electromagnetic shock.
Sign up for Outage Alerts
Plug electronics into a surge protector
: This reduces the risk of electrical hazards such voltage spikes and
fires, protecting items like laptops and TVs from damage.
Water and electricity don’t mix
: Don’t touch electrical equipment that may have been exposed to water.
Lower fridge and freezer temperatures
: Protect your food supply by lowering your fridge temperature to 40° F/4°
C and your freezer temperature to 0° F/-18° C.
Download our handy
checklist
for a more detailed action plan. It’s a great tool to assess your storm
readiness and get the entire family onboard on what to do in an emergency.
The bottom of the checklist includes a space to add emergency contact
information. Complete the checklist together and print copies for every
member in your household.
Stay informed
Report the outage:
Using a mobile phone, report the outage as soon as it occurs by calling
1.800.434.1235 or
online
.
Use the Outage Map:
Download
Hydro One’s Outage Map to your mobile phone or visit our website. Check it
regularly for updates during the storm.
Listen to local radio stations:
Using your battery-powered radio from your emergency kit, listen to local
radio stations for updates.