Ontario Ice Storms: Outage Alerts and How to Prepare

Freezing rain is one of the main causes of power outages in Ontario, the Province says. Ice weighs down branches and lines, and it makes roads and sidewalks slippery at the same time. Here’s how to set up alerts now and what to do when the ice comes.

This is general information. Follow your local officials and utility. Call 911 in an emergency.

1. Set up your alerts

Three alert sources cover most of what you need.

• Your utility’s outage alerts. If Hydro One is your utility, it offers outage alerts by text and email. You can sign up through myAccount, by texting REGISTER to 92887 (WATTS) and following the prompts, or in the Hydro One app under Outage Map, then Menu, then Get Outage Alerts. If your power comes from a local utility instead, check its website for a similar service.
• Weather warnings. Environment and Climate Change Canada’s free WeatherCAN app can send push notifications for severe weather, air quality and extreme temperatures.
• Alert Ready. Canada’s national emergency alerting system sends urgent alerts to TV, radio and compatible LTE-connected phones.

Ontario also suggests knowing how your own community shares updates in an emergency. Check your municipality’s website for a local alert sign-up.

2. Stock a 3-day kit, at least

Ontario says to make sure your household’s emergency kit is stocked to last at least 3 days. It also asks you to think about essentials an outage could affect, such as medication that needs to stay cold.

• Water: Canada.ca suggests about 4 L (about 1 US gallon) per person per day
• Food that needs no cooking or fridge
• Flashlights and spare batteries
• A battery or crank radio
• Charged phones and power banks
• Warm layers and a blanket or sleeping bag for each person
• Battery-operated smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, which Ontario recommends
• Medications, and a plan for any that need the fridge

My 72-hour list is a printable version, and the plan builder works out longer stays.

If you have a backup generator, Ontario says to follow the manufacturer’s instructions and make sure it’s professionally installed.

Medicine and medical devices

Ontario asks you to think ahead about essentials an outage could affect, such as refrigerated medication. If you take insulin or another medicine that needs the fridge, ask your pharmacist how long it can be kept out and how to keep it cool. My medication planning guide has questions to bring.

If someone at home uses powered medical equipment, talk to your supplier about a backup, and let your utility know. My medical device power plan and power station sizing guide can help.

3. When the ice arrives

Stay away from downed lines

Ontario says to keep yourself, children and pets at least 10 metres (about 33 feet) away from any downed power line. Give ice-laden trees and lines a wide berth when you go outside.

Heat and carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide warning. Barbecues, camp stoves and generators give off carbon monoxide, which you can’t see or smell and which can kill within minutes. Ontario says not to use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping stoves or home generators indoors, because their exhaust can be fatal.

Ontario’s heating rules for an outage:

• Don’t use a gas stove or oven to heat your home. It could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning.
• Only use portable space heaters designed for indoor use.
• Turn your heating and cooling systems down to the minimum, to prevent damage when power returns.

Health Canada says that if your CO alarm sounds, leave right away, get to fresh air, and call 911 or the fire department from outside. Don’t go back in until a professional has fixed the problem.

My guide to staying warm when the power is out covers one warm room and layers.

Food

Ontario says to keep fridge and freezer doors closed while the power is out. My fridge food safety guide helps you decide what’s safe afterwards.

Know when the power’s back

Ontario suggests leaving one light switched on so you’ll know when power is restored.

4. When the power comes back

Ontario says to wait 10 to 15 minutes before slowly turning appliances back on, so the system has a chance to stabilise. Then check the fridge and freezer, and reset clocks and thermostats.

5. Check on people nearby

Canada.ca suggests checking on older relatives and neighbours before a winter storm, to make sure they have enough supplies, and helping during the storm if you can do it safely. On icy days, a phone call is safer than a walk across the street. My guide to neighbour networks has a simple way to organise it.

6. If you have to drive

It’s safest to stay off icy roads. If you must go, check road conditions first and keep a car kit. Canada.ca’s car kit includes a blanket, water in plastic bottles, food, a small shovel and scraper, a wind-up flashlight, and sand or non-clumping cat litter. See my winter car emergency kit for what to do if you get stuck.

Build the rest of your plan

• Get amounts for your household and number of days in the plan builder.
• Print ready-made lists, including the winter storm checklist.
• Plan no-cook meals with my food page and recipes.