Power Outages

You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours during an emergency. You should also understand the basic principles of first aid and safety. 

• Make an emergency plan and an emergency kit. 
• Install a non-electric standby stove or heater. 
• Ensure your chimney is cleaned every fall if you have a wood-burning fireplace to use. 
• Know the power requirements and proper operating procedures for your home generator.
• Make sure your home has a working carbon monoxide detector with a battery-powered back-up.
• Protect sensitive electrical appliances such as TVs and computers by using a surge-protecting powerbar.
• Have items on hand that do not require refrigeration, such as shelf-stable foods, including canned goods and water. Remember to check expire dates and replace these emergency storage food items periodically.
• Make sure to have ready-to-use baby formula and pet food, if needed. 

Learn more about what to do BEFORE a power outage. 

People with disabilities or others requiring assistance 

For those living with a physical, visual, auditory and/or other non-visible disability, emergency preparedness should also involve incorporating individual accommodations into their family emergency response plan. Consider how you may be affected in a power outage, including: 

• Your evacuation route — without elevator service (if applicable). 
• Planning for a backup power supply for essential medical equipment.
• Keeping a flashlight and a cell phone handy to signal for help.
• Establishing a self-help network to assist and check on you during an emergency.
• Enrolling in a medical alert program that will signal for help if you are immobilized.
• Keeping a list of facilities that provide life-sustaining equipment or treatment.
• Keeping a list of medical conditions and treatment.
• If you live in an apartment, advise the property management that you may need assistance staying in your apartment or that you must be evacuated if there is a power outage. This will allow the property manager to plan and make the necessary arrangements on your behalf. 

Review the Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities. 

To keep you and your family safe during a power outage, remember to: 

• Check on older relatives, neighbours and vulnerable people to ensure they are safe and comfortable while the power is off.
• Unplug all tools, appliances and electronic equipment, and turn the thermostat(s) for the home heating system down to minimum to prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored.  
• Turn off all lights, except one inside and one outside, so that both you and hydro crews outside know that power has been restored. 
• Use proper candle holders. Never leave lit candles unattended and keep out of reach of children. Always extinguish candles before going to bed. 
• Never use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment, or home generators indoors. They give off carbon monoxide and cause respiratory conditions due to build up. 
• Do not open the refrigerator or freezer door unless absolutely necessary in order to maintain the cold temperature. 
• If your water source is a well, avoid turning on your faucets or flushing toilet to conserve water. Use alternate water sources such as bottled water. 
• Avoid using a pool or hot tub as the recirculation systems may be impacted affecting their operation and safety.
• Septic Systems: Some on-site septic systems use pumps that run on electricity. Pumps move waste through the system and into the leaching bed or treatment unit. If you’re still using water in your home, remember that septic and pump tanks will continue to fill with waste-water. If the tanks get too full, the effluent could back up into the home. Limit water use until power is restored.

Learn more about what to do DURING a power outage, including what to do if you must evacuate. 

Once your power has been restored, there are some important steps to follow. 

• Give the electrical system a chance to stabilize before reconnecting tools and appliances.  
• Turn on the water supply. Close lowest valves/taps first and allow air to escape from upper taps.
• Make sure that the hot water heater is filled before turning on the power to it.
• Check food supplies in refrigerators, freezers and cupboards for signs of spoilage. If a freezer door has been kept closed, food should stay frozen 24 to 36 hours, depending on the temperature. When food begins to defrost (usually after two days), it should be cooked; otherwise it should be thrown out.
• Reset your clocks, automatic timers, and alarms.
• Restock your emergency kit so the supplies will be there when needed again.
• Well Water: Ensure your well water treatment system is working. Run the water for approximately five minutes before using to flush out the water line to ensure it is safe. This is important, as flushing your plumbing system removes any untreated water that may still be in there.
• Get your well water tested as soon as possible after a power outage to ensure it is safe for drinking. Pick up your well water testing kits and drop off samples any Health Unit office in Lindsay, Port Hope and Cobourg, or at other locations in the area.

Learn more about what to do AFTER a power outage.  

Businesses that do not have adequate back-up generators to operate their refrigeration, ventilation, water treatment equipment, water and sewage system pumps and other essential equipment must remain closed until power is restored.

Contact the HKPR District Health Unit if you have a business that has been affected by power outages, including: 

• Food Premise Operators 
• Drinking Water Operators 
• Pool Operators 
• Long-Term Care Home 
• Licensed Child Care 

Speak with a Public Health Inspector by calling 1-866-888-4577 x 5006 or emailing info@hkpr.on.ca.

Food Safety

• Do not open the refrigerator or freezer door unless absolutely necessary in order to maintain the cold temperature. 
• Refrigerated foods become potentially hazardous for consumption if they cannot be stored at 4 C (40 F) or less.  As a rule of thumb, an unopened refrigerator will keep foods cool for 4 – 6 hours without power.  
• Do not place frozen food outside, even in winter. The sun could thaw frozen food even when the outdoor temperature is very cold, and animals could contaminate your food.
• Do not place frozen food outside, even in winter. The sun could thaw frozen food even when the outdoor temperature is very cold, and animals could contaminate your food.  
• All hazardous foods (meat, poultry, dairy, fish and eggs) that have been stored above 4 C (40 F) for more than 2 hours must be discarded due to the increased risk of the growth of organisms that can cause foodborne illness. It is recommended that you discard: 
  • Raw or cooked meat products such as cold cuts, poultry and poultry products 
  • Fish and seafood 
  • Milk and milk products, including yogurt and cheese 
  • Casseroles, stews, soups 
  • Salads such as pasta, potato, and rice 
  • Raw and cooked vegetables
  • Frozen foods
• If your chest freezer is full, foods inside should remain safely frozen for up to 48 hours after a power outage. If your freezer is half full, foods inside should remain safely frozen for 24 hours after a power outage. Any foods that are thawed should be discarded, including: 
  • Thawed vegetables, fish, shellfish, ice cream and frozen foods because bacteria multiply rapidly in these foods. 
  • Partially thawed foods that still contain ice crystals can be safely refrozen.  However partial thawing and refreezing reduces the quality of most foods. 
  • Fruits that still look and smell good may be refrozen. 

Learn more about food safety about a power outage. 

Water Safety

• If your water source is a well, avoid turning on your faucets or flushing toilet to conserve water. Use alternate water sources such as bottled water. 
• Avoid using a pool or hot tub as the recirculation systems may be impacted affecting their operation and safety.
• If your water source is a private well, flush and disinfect your water lines as per Well Disinfection Tool from Public Health Ontario, and test your well water to ensure it remains clean and safe for consumption.