Power Outage Preparedness Guide Contents Important numbers 1 Power outage safety tips 2-3 Preparing an emergency kit 3-4 Pets and emergencies 4 Sheltering in place 5 Food safety 5-8 Emergency contact list 8

Important numbers Power outages CNIB 1-877-963-6900 (, Aurora, , 1-800-563-2642 (Phone - toll-free) , Bradford West Gwillimbury, Markham, www.cnib.ca (Website) , Richmond Hill, Thornton, Tottenham, ) Multiple Sclerosis Society of Canada 905-522-6611 (Hamilton) 1-800-268-7582 (Phone - toll-free) www.mssociety.ca (Website) 905-684-8111 (St. Catharines) 1-844-797-7920 () Telehealth info line 519-822-3017 (/Rockwood) 1-866-797-0000 (Phone - toll-free) 905-273-7425 () 1-866-797-0007 (TTY Toll-free) Downed electric wires and other emergency Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act situations – Call 911 1-866-515-2025 (Phone - toll-free) www.alectrautilities.com 1-800-268-7095 (TTY Toll-free) www.aoda.ca (Website) Canadian Hearing Society 416-928-2500 (Phone) Ontario Seniors’ Secretariat 1-877-347-3427 (Toll-free) 1-888-910-1999 (Phone - toll-free) 905-608-1691 (TTY Toll-free) 1-800-387-5559 (TTY Toll-free) www.chs.ca (Website) Insurance Bureau of Canada Canadian Diabetes Association 1-844-227-5422 (Phone - toll-free) 1-800-226-8464 (Phone - toll-free) www.ibc.ca (Website) www.diabetes.ca (Website) Ministry of Health and Long Term Care - info line Spinal Cord Injury Ontario 1-866-532-3161 (Phone - toll-free) www.sciontario.org (Website) 1-800-387-5559 (TTY Toll-free)

Canadian Red Cross 905-890-1000 (Phone) www.redcross.ca (Website)

1 Power outage safety tips

Prepare before the power outage During a power outage (continued) • Prepare you and your pet’s 72-hour emergency bours’ home, the library, shopping mall, or kit (see page 4). municipal warming centre. • Start your own support network of family, • Turn off or disconnect electrical appliances neighbours, and friends, and give them your (except refrigerators and freezers) in case of a contact numbers and special requirements list. power surge. • Keep extra flashlights and batteries in easy to • Keep one light on so you will know when the find places in your home. power has been restored. • Keep all electronic devices fully charged. • If possible check in with family to tell them • Keep a bag of ice in your freezer to help keep you are ok or have family, friends or neigh- food cold. bours contact you. • Prepare a back-up plan for medical devices If you use a candle, here are some safety tips: requiring power. • Use well ventilated holders that are sturdy and • Always wear your medical alert items. will not tip over. • Keep important phone numbers and websites • Keep burning candles away from materials such as your power utility, and other agencies, that can catch fire (like curtains, decorations, in an accessible location. and clothing). • Keep a list of your medications and name, • Keep burning candles out of reach of children model number, and instructions of any and pets. medical devices, in your 72-hour kit. • Do not leave candles burning unattended, and • You may need to evacuate your home; extinguish them before pre-plan transportation and accessible you go to sleep. transportation. • Battery-operated candles • Keep mobility aids, hearing aids, glasses, and are very popular; try other medical items in the same place every to keep one on hand. night so you will find them quickly. • Consider adding surge protectors to electronic devices, such as computers. After the power has been restored • Throw away any food that may be spoiled (see During a power outage pages 5-8 for food safety). If in doubt, throw • Keep your refrigerator and freezer doors shut it out. (see pages 5-8 on food safety). • Contact your pharmacist or doctor if you • Never run a generator or BBQ inside your are concerned about medications that are home. temperature sensitive. • If outage occurs during a high heat event, • Recharge electronic devices. close blinds and/or curtains to keep sunlight • Reset your clocks, timers, and alarms. out, go to your basement if you have one, wear light coloured clothing, drink plenty of water, • Have electronic medical devices serviced or or go to a family member or neighbour’s home, repaired, if necessary. the library, shopping mall, or a municipal • Restock your 72-hour emergency kit. cooling centre. • Customers should check the “stack” where • If an outage occurs during cold temperatures, the electrical service connects to the house put on layers of clothes, have extra blankets if power has been restored to your neighbour- nearby, or go to a family member or neigh- hood yet your house is still out. 2 Power outage safety tips

Tips for individuals with vision loss Tips for individuals with hearing loss and possible • Keep Braille/text communication cards, TTY, speech difficulties (continued) Screen Braille Communicator, or other • If possible, install flashing lights to alert you communication device for 2-way comm- of a problem, such as the smoke detector unication in a readily accessible location. going off. • Mark your emergency kit and supplies with • Set a monthly schedule to check alarm Braille labels or large print. batteries as many use audio signals to alert • Make an audio file, listing the items in your of low batteries. kit, contact numbers, and other important • If you use a communication device, plan how information. to safety carry the device, know where it can • Ensure your service animal has a 72-hour kit. be replaced if broken, and record serial and model numbers. • Put an extra pair of glasses in your 72-hour kit. Tips for individuals with mobility problems Tips for individuals with hearing loss and possible • Ensure your support network knows how to speech difficulties operate any motorized devices (wheelchairs, scooters, etc). • Put extra hearing aid batteries in your 72-hour kit. • Know if your wheelchair can fit into a friend’s vehicle should they need to assist you to • Add a pen and paper to communicate with if evacuate. speech is affected. • If possible, have a lightweight, manual chair • Prepare communications cards or cards with as a backup. pictures that describe basic needs. • Keep tire repair kits, extra (charged) batteries, • Include telephone number to obtain an inter- and other equipment and tools handy to preter if someone is calling on your behalf. handle repairs. • Keep canes, walkers, and other mobility aids in an easy to find locations, and consider put- ting them in the same location every evening.

Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit

• Non-perishable food such as: - Canned meats - Canned vegetables - Canned fruits • Powdered foods (take into consideration that these products will require water and possibly cooking facilities):

In Case of Emergency - Milk - Pasta dishes • Comfort foods: Food and water - Chips • Enough food for each person for at least 72 - Chocolate bars hours. - Cookies • Consider dietary requirements. 3 Prepare a 72-hour emergency kit

Water Clothing and bedding • 4 litres of water per day for each person: • Comfortable clothing for each member of your - 2 litres for drinking group or family. - 2 litres for cooking/hygiene • Have enough clothing so that each person can • Consider buying water purification tablets change into clean clothes. which can purify water (these can be • Consider the time of year and weather condi- purchased at many sporting goods stores). tions; you may also want to include a jacket Tools and supplies for each person. • Crank radio • Blankets • Flashlights • Pillows • Extra batteries for flashlights and other • Sleeping bags electronics Medications • Money • Ensure that all necessary medications are • Rope (could be used for a clothes line) labeled (type/name of medication, your name, • Deck of cards doctor’s name, reason for medication). • Paper and pencils/pens • Include copies of your prescriptions and the • Map of the area contact information for the prescribing doctor. • Personal hygiene products General items • Bucket • Photocopies of important documents • Strong tape (duct tape or electrical tape) (identification, passport, prescriptions, etc). • Can opener • Recent photo of you and your family members. ALWAYS CHECK EXPIRY DATES ON ALL FOODS, • Place all paper materials in a waterproof bag WATER AND MEDICATIONS to prevent water damage.

Pets and emergencies It’s important to consider your pets during an emergency situation. Here is a list of items that you should consider including in your emergency kit if you have a pet. • Have enough food and water to last 72 hours. • A recent photo of you and your pet. • Collar with name tags. • Telephone number of your vet or local animal • Leash/kennel/cage. hospital. • Litter and litter pan. • Toys (may help reduce your pets stress level during an emergency). • Medications that your pet may require. • Documentation of ownership and vaccin- ations.

4 Sheltering in place

In an emergency situation, it may be necessary to ‘shelter in place’. This means that an emergency situation may be developing quickly and it has been determined that there is not enough time to evacuate you and your neighbours. It could also mean that there has been a fire or a chemical release making the environment along escape routes unsafe. Here are some tips if you are told to remain in your residence: • Go indoors immediately and stay there. • Fill bathtubs with water; this will help those • Contact your family members to let them know living in apartments to have water if there is where you are, and keep them informed. a power outage. • Turn off air conditioning and close floor vents • Tune in to your television or radio and visit and windows in case of a chemical emergency. your municipality’s website for more infor- mation. • Bring out your 72-hour home emergency kit. • Do not leave your residence until you are • Ensure that you have a corded landline phone informed by the authorities that it is safe to plugged in. do so. • Ensure any other devices that you use for • If you have an emergency while you are shel- communications are fully charged. tering in place, call 9-1-1. • Have a list of your medications and monitor your quantities.

Food safety FOOD Held above 4°C/40°F for over 2 hours Meat, poultry, seafood Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish or seafood; soy meat substitutes Discard Thawing meat or poultry Discard Meat, tuna, shrimp, chicken, or egg salad Discard Gravy, stuffing, broth Discard Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef Discard Pizza (with any topping) Discard Canned hams labeled “Keep Refrigerated” Discard Canned meats and fish (opened) Discard Cheese Soft cheeses: blue/bleu, roquefort, brie, camembert, cottage, cream, edam, monterey jack, ricotta, mozzarella, muenster, neufchatel, queso blanco, queso fresco Discard Hard cheeses: cheddar, colby, swiss, parmesan, provolone, romano Safe Processed cheeses Safe Shredded cheeses Discard Low-fat cheeses Discard Grated parmesan, romano, or combination (in can or jar) Safe Dairy Milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk Discard Butter, margarine Safe Baby formula (opened) Discard 5 Food safety

Eggs Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products Discard Custards and puddings Discard Casseroles, soups, stews Discard Fruits Fresh fruits (cut) Discard Fruit juices (opened) Safe Canned fruits (opened) Safe Fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates Safe Sauces, spreads, jams Discard if above 10°C/50°F for over 8 hours Peanut butter Safe Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles Safe Worchestershire, soy, barbecue, hoisin sauces Safe Fish sauces (oyster sauce) Discard Vinegar-based dressings (opened) Safe Creamy-based dressings (opened) Discard Spaghetti sauce (opened jar) Discard Bread, cakes, cookies, pasta, grains Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas Safe Refrigerator biscuits, rolls, cookie dough Discard Cooked pasta, rice, potatoes Discard Pasta salads with mayonnaise or vinaigrette Discard Fresh pasta Discard Cheesecake Discard Breakfast foods - waffles, pancakes, bagels Safe Pies, pastry Pastries (cream-filled) Discard Pies (custard, cheese-filled, chiffon, quiche) Discard Pies (fruit) Safe Vegetables Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices Safe Greens (pre-cut, pre-washed, packaged) Discard Vegetables (raw) Safe Vegetables (cooked), tofu Discard Vegetable juice (opened) Discard Baked potatoes Discard Commercial garlic in oil Discard Potato salad Discard

* Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Safety and Inspection Service

6 Food safety

FROZEN FOOD Still contains ice Thawed. (When to save and when to throw it out) crystals and feels Held above 4°C/40°F as cold as if for over 2 hours refrigerated Meat, poultry, seafood Beef, veal, lamb, pork, ground meats Refreeze Discard Poultry and ground poultry Refreeze Discard Variety meats (liver, kidney, heart) Refreeze Discard Casseroles, stews, soups Refreeze Discard Fish, shellfish, breaded seafood products Refreeze Discard (However, there Discard will be some texture and flavour loss) Dairy Milk Refreeze Discard (May lose some texture) Eggs (out of shell) and egg products Refreeze Discard Ice cream, frozen yogurt Discard Discard Cheese (soft and semi-soft) Refreeze Discard (May lose some texture) Hard cheeses Refreeze Refreeze Shredded cheeses Refreeze Discard Casseroles containing milk, cream eggs, soft cheeses Refreeze Discard Cheesecake Refreeze Discard Fruits Juices Refreeze Refreeze (Discard if mold, yeasty smell, or sliminess develops) Home or commercially packaged Refreeze Refreeze (Will change (Discard if mold, texture and yeasty smell, or flavour) sliminess develops) Vegetables Juices Refreeze Discard after held above 4°C/40°F for 6 hours Home or commercially packaged or blanched Refreeze Discard after held (Will change above 4°C/40°F texture and for 6 hours flavour)

* Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Safety and Inspection Service 7 Food safety

FROZEN FOOD Still contains ice Thawed. (When to save and when to throw it out) crystals and feels Held above 4°C/40°F as cold as if for over 2 hours refrigerated

Breads, pastries Breads, rolls, muffins, cakes (without custard fillings) Refreeze Refreeze Cakes, pies, pastries with custard or cheese filling Refreeze Discard Pie crusts, commercial and homemade bread dough Refreeze Refreeze (Some quality loss (Quality loss is may occur) considerable) Other Casseroles - pasta, rice-based Refreeze Discard Flour, cornmeal, nuts Refreeze Refreeze Breakfast items - waffles, pancakes, bagels Refreeze Refreeze Frozen meal, entree, specialty items (pizza, Refreeze Discard sausage and biscuit, meat pie, convenience foods) * Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Safety and Inspection Service

Emergency contact list Name of Contact: Name of Contact: Relationship: Relationship: Phone #: Phone #: Email: Email: Address: Address:

Name of Contact: Name of Contact: Relationship: Relationship: Phone #: Phone #: Email: Email: Address: Address:

8 alectraCARES