Power outages – Get Prepared

To keep your household safe and to minimize the effects of outages on your home and family, take the following precautions before a power outage.

How to prepare before a power outage

You and your household should be prepared to cope on your own during a power outage.

• Prepare your emergency kit. Learn more about what items to put in your kit, including quick and easy steps you can take right away
• Make a household emergency plan. Consider the specific needs of all members of your household, including older adults, children, pets, and anyone with special health needs
• Consider options for backup power such as batteries or power banks
• Keep flashlights with batteries in accessible locations
• Keep your gas tank at least half full, or your electric vehicle charged, if there is risk of a power outage

Where to get information

• Plan how you will communicate and receive information
• Consider purchasing a battery pack that can charge critical devices multiple times
• Include a crank operated or battery powered radio in your emergency kit in case the internet is down
• Consider getting access to landline or satellite telephones
• Be aware of official local or regional sources of information or gathering places
• Stay connected to weather alert services that share weather warnings, watches, advisories and statements:
• WeatherCAN app provides local weather alert notifications
• Weather information including public weather alerts across Canada
• Weatheradio network hosts a listing of radio weather broadcast frequencies by province or territory
• Hello Weather provides forecasts, conditions, and other weather information by telephone
• Local radio and television broadcasts will help you stay up to date with the latest local weather information

Plan for medical needs

• Talk to your doctor about how medical conditions may be affected during a power outage
• Understand your list of medications and speak to a medical professional about planning for critical medication
• Make a power outage plan for medical devices powered by electricity, refrigerated medicines, or devices reliant on the internet
• Enroll in a medical alert program that will signal for help if you need it. Make sure this system will work during a power outage
• Keep a list of facilities that provide life-sustaining equipment or treatment
• Plan an evacuation route without the use of elevators
• If you live in an apartment, advise the property management if you may need assistance evacuating  

Prepare your home

• Learn how to shut off the water system in your house
• Drain water from your plumbing system as pipes can freeze during winter outages
• Have working carbon monoxide alarms and smoke detectors with battery backups
• Protect electronics such as TVs or computers with a surge-protecting power bar
• Consider installing back-up power and heat sources such as non-electric stoves, heaters or generators
• If you have a wood-burning fireplace, clean the chimney every fall
• Get advice from a licensed electrician before you install a generator to safely meet your electricity needs
• Consider installing a whole home surge protector:
• This helps prevent damage to appliances such as your fridge, stove, or microwave
• It offers significantly more protection than a typical power bar with surge protection

Know how to safely use generators

If you have selected a generator as a back-up power source, it is important to understand how to operate it safely:

• Always follow the manufacturer's instructions
• Plan to operate portable fuel-burning generators at least 6 m (20 feet) from all homes or buildings:
• Direct exhaust away from open windows and doors
• Close all windows and doors near the generator
• Use portable fuel-burning generators that automatically shut off when carbon monoxide levels are high
• Ensure carbon monoxide alarms are working
• Battery- or solar-powered portable generators do not produce carbon monoxide and can be used anywhere
• Connect lights and appliances directly to the generator
• If extension cords must be used, ensure they are properly rated, CSA-approved cords
• A back-up generator may only be connected to your home's electrical system through an approved transfer panel and switch that has been installed by a qualified electrician
• Never plug a generator into a wall outlet

If you have an electric vehicle

• Try to keep a full charge prior to a significant meteorological event, or planned long term outage
• Public charging stations may be offline or could become crowded depending on the length and location of the outage
• Identify nearby friends, family or community members that could provide a backup charge location
• Ensure you have adequate adapters to charge your vehicle
• If purchasing third party charging adapters, ensure they have certification marks, such as CSA, cUL, or cETL:
• These marks mean the products are assessed and meet the national safety standard

During a power outage

When the power goes out, you may be left without heating, air conditioning, lighting, or running water. You may also lose internet and phone service. There are steps you can take to minimize the effects of power outages:

Assess the situation

• Check if the power outage is only in your home
• Check your circuit breaker panel or fuse box
• Contact your power or hydro company to report the outage
• Monitor news and information from your power or hydro company and local authorities:
  • Tune into a local radio station on your battery-powered or wind-up radio
  • Check official social media accounts
• Limit your cellphone use if you’re unable to charge the device
• Turn on power saving settings on cellphones and other battery powered devices
• Eliminate unnecessary travel by car since traffic lights may be out

Shelter in place

• Unplug all tools, appliances and electronic equipment
• Turn your thermostat down to prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored
• Leave one light on inside and outside to show that power has been restored
• Don’t touch your circuit breaker or fuse panel with wet hands or while standing on a damp floor
• Don't open your freezer or fridge unless it is absolutely necessary
  • A full freezer will keep food frozen for 24-48 hours if the door remains closed
• Check the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to ensure they’re working
• Use flashlights instead of candles to lower the risk of fire
• A natural gas stove can be used during a power outage to prepare food, but do not use it as a heating source
• A natural gas fireplace can provide warmth until the power is back on

Protect yourself from carbon monoxide (CO)

Because you can't smell or see it, carbon monoxide can cause health problems and is life-threatening.

• Don’t use outdoor fuel-burning cooking equipment indoors, such as barbecues, camping stoves and portable burners:
• Don’t operate this equipment in a shed or garage, crawlspace or basement, even with the windows and doors open
• Only use this equipment outdoors
• Keep it away from air intakes, open doors and windows
• If you use your vehicle to charge electronics or to warm up, do not idle in a garage, even with the garage door open
• If a carbon monoxide alarm sounds
• Leave your home immediately and move to fresh air
• Don’t try to locate the source of the carbon monoxide
• Once outside, call 9-1-1 or your local emergency services
• Don’t re-enter your home until a qualified professional tells you its safe
• Learn more about how to protect yourself from carbon monoxide poisoning

If you need to evacuate

• Grab your emergency kit and listen to local authorities
• Know evacuation routes since cellular or internet services may be unavailable
• If there is time, turn off the main breaker, circuit-breaker panel, or power-supply box in your home before you leave
• Prepare to evacuate if your home becomes unsafe due to extreme cold, extreme heat, floods or any other hazard

After a power outage

• Give the electrical system a chance to stabilize before reconnecting tools and appliances
• Turn the heating-system thermostats up first
• Reconnect your fridge and freezer
• Wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting other tools and appliances
• Make sure that the hot water heater is filled before turning on the power
• Ensure food safety after a power outage in refrigerators, freezers and cupboards
• Don’t touch electrical power lines and stay away from them
• Report downed power lines to the appropriate officials in your area

Date modified:

2024-11-12