Winter power outages: how to build a 72-hour kit and prepare your home

Winter in Simcoe County brings beautiful scenery, but also snowstorms, freezing rain and strong winds that bring branches down on power lines. When that happens, whole neighbourhoods can lose power for a few hours or even days. The Government of Canada recommends that every household be able to manage on its own for at least 72 hours in an emergency. November is the perfect month to get ready.

What to put in your 72-hour kit

Keep everything in a backpack or bin that's easy to grab, and make sure the whole family knows where it is:

• Water: at least 2 litres per person per day for drinking, plus water for hygiene.
• Non-perishable food that needs no cooking: canned goods (with a manual can opener), granola bars, nuts, crackers, dried fruit.
• Battery-powered or crank flashlight and radio, with extra batteries.
• A portable power bank for your phone, kept charged.
• First aid kit and a few days of regular medications.
• Blankets, sleeping bags and warm clothing for everyone.
• Cash in small bills, since cards may not work without power.
• Copies of important documents (passport, PR card, OHIP) in a plastic bag or on a USB drive.
• Supplies for babies and pets, if needed.

Before the storm

• Follow Environment Canada alerts in your weather app or at weather.gc.ca.
• Charge phones, laptops and power banks.
• Fill up your car, since gas stations may lose power.
• Know who your electricity distributor is (for example, Alectra in Barrie, or Hydro One in many rural areas) and save the link to its outage map.
• If someone at home uses electrical medical equipment, have a backup plan.

During the outage

• Report the outage to your distributor and check the estimated restoration time on the online map.
• Keep the fridge and freezer closed. A full freezer keeps food frozen for about 48 hours.
• Unplug electronics to avoid damage when power returns, leaving one light on so you know when it's back.
• Close curtains and doors to unused rooms to keep heat in.
• Never use a barbecue, camp stove or generator inside your home or garage. They produce carbon monoxide, an odourless gas that can kill.
• Use flashlights instead of candles whenever possible.

If your home gets too cold

During long outages, municipalities in the region often open warming centres in libraries or community centres. Follow your town's social media and website. Check on elderly neighbours or those who live alone. Watch your pipes too: if the indoor temperature drops a lot, leave a tap dripping to keep water from freezing in the pipes.

Alarms save lives

Test your smoke and carbon monoxide alarms now and replace the batteries. In Ontario, they are required by law in every home with fuel-burning appliances, and they are your main protection when your family uses alternative sources of heat and light.

Start small

You don't have to buy everything at once. Add a few items to your cart on each grocery trip and within a few weeks your kit will be complete. The Government of Canada's official Get Prepared website has lists and guides in several languages.