Extreme Heat
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What is a heat alert?
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Both the Ministry of Environment and Environment Canada monitor weather and air quality and issue early heat alert notification up to four days in advance to affected areas. During a heat alert, everyone is at risk. Extreme heat can be particularly dangerous for children, the elderly or people who are ill.
On days when the temperature reaches 31 degrees Celsius or greater or a Humidex of 40 degrees, the City of Oshawa may extend its outdoor pools and splash pad hours until sunset and may also extend its lifeguard supervision at Lakeview Park beach. Additionally on these days, the City's drop-in playground program may be cancelled. These Facility and Program notifications are available via our News and Alerts. You can sign up to have Facility and Program alerts emailed to you. Updates will also be posted on our Twitter and Facebook accounts.
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What are the heat alert levels?
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Heat Warning: Daytime highs greater than or equal to 31 degrees Celsius and nighttime lows greater than or equal to 20 degrees or Humidex of 40 degrees or greater. The expected duration is two days.
Extended Heat Warning: Daytime highs greater than or equal to 31 degrees Celsius and nighttime lows greater than or equal to 20 degrees or Humidex of 40 degrees Celsius or at the discretion of Durham Region Health Department during extenuating circumstances (i.e. large scale power outage during a heat event). The expected duration is three or more days.
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Before a heat alert
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- Be prepared: ensure that your household has emergency plans and emergency kits in place.
- Review and discuss extreme heat safety tips with your entire household to make sure everyone understands what to do in extreme heat conditions.
- Include extra water, sunscreen with a high SPF and sunglasses in your emergency kit.
- Stay informed - during the summer months, check Environment Canada's website for information regarding weather and humidex reports; check the Ontario Ministry of the Environment website for information regarding smog alerts.
Prepare your home:
- If you have a central air conditioning unit, check air conditioning ducts for proper insulation.
- If you do not have central air, consider installing window air conditioners snugly, and insulate if necessary.
- Close any floor heat registers nearby and use a circulating or box fan to spread cool air.
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During a heat alert
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If you are indoors:
- Stay indoors as much as possible to limit exposure to the sun.
- Take frequent cool showers or baths.
- Cover windows that receive morning or afternoon sun with drapes, shades or awnings.
- Turn on ceiling fans.
- Stay on the lowest floor out of the sunshine if air conditioning is not available.
- Try to avoid using the oven or other hot appliances.
- Turn off lights, computers, stereos, televisions, etc. when not being used.
- Check on family, friends, and neighbours who do not have air conditioning and who may need assistance.
- Stay in air-conditioned rooms, at home, a friend's place, or in public spaces such as City recreation facilities, Oshawa Public Libraries branches and Oshawa Senior Citizen Centres branches.
If you are outdoors:
- Consider spending the hottest part of the day in public buildings that have air conditioning.
- Drink plenty of fluids (water is recommended) or natural fruit juices. Avoid beverages such as coffee, tea and pop.
- Stay in the shade and avoid strenuous physical activities.
- Wear light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing that cover as much skin as possible. Wear sunglasses and a hat.
- Apply and reapply sunscreen with a high SPF.
- If you feel dizzy, weak or overheated, go to a cool place. Sit or lie down, drink water and wash your face with cool water. If you do not feel better soon, seek medical help immediately.
- Do not leave people or pets in parked vehicles, as they can get very hot!
Power outages:
Extreme heat can overload the electric power system and your household may experience a power outage.
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After a heat alert
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Review and discuss extreme heat conditions with your entire household to make sure everyone understands what to do in extreme heat conditions and update your family emergency plan if needed.
Replenish your emergency kit to ensure that it contains extra water, sunscreen with a high SPF and sunglasses.
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Floods
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What is a flood?
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| Flooding is a natural hazard in Ontario that can happen at any time. Typically, floods are a result of melting snow, ice jams, heavy spring rains and summer thunderstorms. Flash flooding is often caused by violent rainstorms or breaking dams, and usually occurs with little or no advance warning. |
Before a flood
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- Be prepared - ensure that your household has emergency plans and emergency kits in place.
- Review and discuss the safety tips with your entire household to make sure everyone understands what to do in the event of heavy rains and flooding.
- Stay informed.
- Put weather protection sealant around basement windows and ground-level doors.
- Install "check valves" in sewer traps to prevent floodwater from backing up into the drains of your home.
- Install the drainage for downspouts a sufficient distance from your home to ensure water moves away from the building.
- Keep instructions for shutting off gas and water valves handy and read them carefully.
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During a flood
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If you are indoors:
- Do not use your telephone, except in an extreme (life-threatening) emergency.
- Move essential items, documents and keepsakes to an upper floor.
- Do not enter your basement if water has risen above the electrical outlets until a qualified electrician has determined it is safe to do so.
- Turn off utilities at the main switches or valves if instructed to do so by local officials. Disconnect electrical appliances. Do NOT attempt to shut off electricity if any water is present. Water and live electrical wires can be lethal. Leave your home immediately.
- Do not eat fresh food that has been exposed to flood waters.
If you are outdoors:
- Do not walk through moving water - you may fall. If you have to walk, look for where the water is not moving and use a stick to check the ground in front of you.
- Be aware that flash flooding may occur. If there is any possibility of a flash flood, move immediately to higher ground. Keep children away from floodwater.
- Stay at least ten metres from downed power lines.
During severe flooding, your household may experience a power outage. Additionally, you may receive Shelter in Place or Evacuation instructions to protect yourself and your household.
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After a flood
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Re-entering your home:
- Do not return home until authorities have advised that it is safe to do so and use extreme caution when returning to your home after a flood.
- Make sure that your household building is structurally safe; look for buckled walls or floors; watch for holes in the floor, broken glass and other potentially dangerous debris.
- Flooded forced-air heating ducts and return-duct pans should be cleaned or replaced.
- Replace filters and insulation inside furnaces, water heaters, refrigerators and freezers if they have been wet or replace the equipment.
- Replace flooring that has been deeply penetrated by floodwater or sewage.
If you have water contact or damage to your electrical system:
- If water in your basement has risen above the electrical outlets, baseboard heaters, furnace or electrical panel, do not re-enter your home until a qualified electrician has determined it is safe to do so.
- Do not use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse-breaker panels until they have been checked by your local utility.
- Hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor to evaluate your home's electrical system to determine if it is safe to have the local electric utility restore power to your home. Find a Licensed Electrical Contractor.
Water:
- Floodwater can be heavily contaminated with sewage and other pollutants. It can cause sickness and infections.
- If through colour, odour or taste you suspect that your drinking water has been contaminated, do not drink it.
- Household items that have been flood-damaged will have to be discarded according to local regulations.
- Contaminated well water should not be consumed until it is determined to be potable through laboratory analysis.
Mould:
- Mould can lead to serious health problems. You may need to have your home professionally cleaned for it to be covered by insurance. Check with your insurance company.
- If you are cleaning up in a room where mould is present, wear a facemask and disposable gloves.
- To minimize mould growth, move items to a cool, dry area within 48 hours and set up fans.
- Alternatively, textiles, furs, paper and books can be frozen until they are treated.
- Wet mould will smear if wiped. Let it dry and then brush it off outdoors.
- You can also kill mould spores by lightly misting the item with rubbing alcohol.
Food and medicine:
Documentation:
- Store all valuable papers that have been damaged in a freezer until they are needed (After your cleanup, consult your lawyer to determine whether flood-damaged documents, or just the information in them, must be retained).
- Record details of flood damage by photograph or video, if possible.
- Register the amount of damage to your home with both your insurance agent and local municipality immediately.
Emergency plans and kits:
- Review and discuss what to do in the event of a future emergency. Update your household emergency plan if needed.
- Replenish your emergency kit.
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Additional flood information:
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For more clean-up tips after a flood, visit:
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Nuclear Accidents
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Durham Region is home to both the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station and the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, both owned by Ontario Power Generation. Ontario's nuclear reactors are built with multiple safeguards making nuclear accidents unlikely; however, some nuclear accidents can occur. While the probability of a serious accident at one of these facilities remains very low, Oshawa residents need to learn what to do in the event of an incident.
Roles & Responsibilities
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Under the Provincial Nuclear Emergency Response Plan, in the event of a nuclear emergency or accident the Province is in control of off-site emergency operations.
Durham Region, through the Durham Emergency Management Office (D.E.M.O.), is responsible for local off-site activities.
The City of Oshawa would address local issues related to a nuclear emergency and communicate updates from the Province and Durham Region that could include evacuation and shelter-in-place orders.
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How will I be notified of a serious accident?
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Durham Region's public alerting system is in place for the 10-kilometre area around both the Darlington and Pickering Nuclear Generating Station.
The public alerting system is designed to warn residents and businesses in the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency. It consists of two components:
- outdoor sirens installed within three kilometres of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
- automated telephone dialling system for indoor notification within the 10-kilometre area. Only households and businesses with a landline, in this 10-kilometre area, will receive the indoor notification.
Additionally, residents can sign up for public alerts with Emergency Management Ontario.
In the event of a serious nuclear accident, local radio and television stations and social media will broadcast information from the Province of Ontario, by way of nuclear Emergency Bulletins, and from Durham Region on public health, safety, and welfare and from the City of Oshawa on local updates.
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Before a nuclear accident
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During a nuclear accident
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What to do: Go, Listen, Follow
In the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency, you will be notified by the Province through its public alerting system:
- outdoor sirens installed within three kilometres of the Darlington Nuclear Generating Station
- automated telephone dialling system for indoor notification within the 10-kilometre area. Only households and businesses with a land line, in this 10-kilometre area, will receive the indoor notification.
Additionally, the City of Oshawa will communicate emergency bulletins and instructions from the Province and Region of Durham.
If you are notified through the public alerting system, this does not mean to evacuate. Follow these three steps - Go, Listen, Follow:
- GO inside your house and turn on your radio, television or computer.
- LISTEN to the media reports and stay informed.
- FOLLOW instructions provided by the provincial government, as relayed by Durham Region and the City of Oshawa.
Who's in charge?
Onsite - Nuclear power plant operators are in charge of responding to the situation onsite.
Offsite - The Provincial Government leads the offsite response to a nuclear emergency. The Provincial Government works with Durham Region and the City of Oshawa to protect the public and respond to a nuclear emergency.
Keeping your family safe
In the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency, officials will quickly determine the degree of risk and take immediate measures to limit the dangers to the surrounding community.
Residents may be asked to take certain actions. These instructions will be communicated through emergency broadcasts on local radio and television stations and social media as well as on our Emergency Alerts webpage. It is important that you stay informed and follow the instructions.
If you were outside around the time of a nuclear emergency, remove your clothes as soon as possible and seal them in a plastic bag. Rinse your hair and body in the shower and then put on clean clothes from a closed drawer or closet.
What instructions might I receive?
Remember:
- Stay calm and do not evacuate unless advised to do so.
- Avoid using the phone unless reporting a 911 emergency.
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After a nuclear accident
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- Review and discuss what to do in the event of another nuclear accident. Update your household emergency plan if needed.
- Replenish your emergency kit.
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Pandemics
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A pandemic is a worldwide outbreak of a specific disease which affects a large proportion of the population. The federal, provincial and territorial governments in Canada are working on pandemic preparedness, and many municipalities, companies and health care facilities also have plans in place.
Although there is no need to panic, it is a good idea for Canadian families to take steps that will help them respond, if necessary, to a flu pandemic, as well as other emergency situations.
Learn how to prepare you and your family for a pandemic with the Public Health Agency of Canada.
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Power Outages
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Most power outages will be over almost as soon as they begin, but some can last much longer - up to days or even weeks. Power outages are often caused by freezing rain, sleet/ice storms and/or high winds that damage power lines and equipment. Cold snaps or heat waves can also overload the electric power system.
During a power outage, you may be left without heating/air conditioning, lighting, hot water, or even running water. If you only have a cordless phone, you will also be left without phone service. If you do not have a battery-powered or crank radio, you may have no way of monitoring news broadcasts. In other words, you could be facing major challenges.
Before a power outage
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- Be prepared - ensure that your household has emergency plans and emergency kits in place.
- Review and discuss the safety tips with your entire household to make sure everyone understands what to do in the event of a power outage.
- Stay informed.
Prepare your home:
- If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned every fall in preparation for use and to eliminate creosote build-up that could ignite and cause a chimney fire.
- If you have purchased an emergency generator for use in the event of a power outage, review the proper operating procedures and power requirements. Never use home generators indoors.
- If you choose to install a non-electric standby stove or heater, choose heating units that are not dependent on an electric motor, electric fan, or some other electric device to function. It is important to adequately vent the stove or heater with the type of chimney flue specified for it.
People with disabilities or others requiring assistance:
Consider how you may be affected in a power outage, and be prepared. Ensure that your emergency plan includes:
- a self-help network to assist and check on you during an emergency
- an evacuation route - without elevator service (if applicable)
- plans for a backup power supply for essential medical equipment (if applicable)
- a list of medical conditions, medications and dosages, and medical equipment
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.
For additional tips on preparing an emergency plan with accessibility considerations, review our Emergency Planning and Accessibility webpage and the federal Emergency Preparedness Guide for People with Disabilities/Special Needs.
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During a power outage
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Keeping your family safe
- Have flashlights and back-up batteries readily available as part of your emergency kit. Be mindful of the battery life on phones.
- Turn off 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. Also, power can be restored more easily when there is not a heavy load on the electrical system.
- If time permits, do a walkthrough of your home and make sure all appliances are turned off such as stoves, ovens, coffeemakers, etc.
- Never use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment, or home generators indoors. They give off carbon monoxide, an odourless, toxic, life-threatening gas.
- To reduce the risk of fire, use flashlights, glow sticks, or battery-operated lanterns instead of candles. If using candles, use proper candleholders. Never leave lit candles unattended and keep out of reach of children. Always extinguish candles before going to bed
- Do not open your freezer or fridge unless it is absolutely necessary. A full freezer will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed.
- If you have to leave your home, keep in mind that traffic lights, traffic signals and streetlights may not be operational therefore causing hazardous driving conditions.
- Consider lending a helping hand to neighbours who require assistance.
Residents may be asked to take certain actions. These instructions will be communicated through emergency broadcasts on local and G.T.A. media, social media channels as well as our News and Alerts updates. It is important that you stay informed and follow the instructions.
You may be asked to protect yourself by:
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To report a power outage or downed power lines
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Contact Oshawa P.U.C. to report a power outage or for updates on power outages, and to report downed power lines or fallen trees/branches on power lines:
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After a power outage
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- Check food supplies in refrigerator, 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.
- Stay well back from loose or dangling electrical wires or downed power lines.
- 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.
- If your power outage was due to flooding, electrical equipment impacted by flood water can be extremely dangerous. For important information about electrical safety during floods, visit the Electrical Safety Authority's website and review our Flood Emergency resources.
- Reset your clocks, automatic timers, and alarms.
- Review and discuss emergency preparedness and update your family emergency plan if needed.
- Replenish your emergency kit.
- Check for damage to your home. If there is damage to your home, check with your insurance provider to see if you have insurance.
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Additional power outage information
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For more clean-up tips after a power outage, visit:
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Severe Storms
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Thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, ice storms, high winds and heavy rain can develop quickly and threaten life and property. Severe storms occur in all regions of Canada and in all seasons.
Types of storms
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Blizzards
A blizzard, is when winds of 40 km/h or greater are expected to cause widespread reductions in visibility to 400 metres or less, due to blowing snow, or blowing snow in combination with falling snow, for at least four hours.
Blizzards come in on a wave of cold arctic air, bringing snow, bitter cold, high winds and poor visibility in blowing snow. While these conditions must last for at least four hours to be designated a blizzard, they may last for several days.
Poor visibility, low temperatures and high winds combine to create a significant hazard. Freezing rain can also occur.
Hail
Hailstorms occur mostly from May to October. Some hailstones are the size of peas while others can be as big as grapefruits.
Ice storms
Freezing rain is tough, clings to everything it touches and is more slippery than snow. A little freezing rain is dangerous, a lot can be catastrophic.
Heavy rain
Heavy rainfall can result in flooding. This is particularly true when the ground is still frozen or already saturated from previous storms.
Lightning
Lightning occurs when the air becomes charged with electricity during a thunderstorm. Bolts of lightning travel at about 40,000 kilometres per second. If you can see lightning or hear thunder, you are in danger of being hit.
Thunderstorms
Thunderstorms are often accompanied by high winds, lightning, heavy rain and can be accompanied by hail or a tornado. Thunderstorms are usually over within an hour, although a series of thunderstorms can last for several hours.
Wind
Strong winds, and especially gusty winds, can cause property damage or turn any loose item into a dangerous projectile, and create unsafe travelling conditions that affect your ability to safely steer your car.
When there is a wind warning for your area, you should expect inland winds to be blowing steadily at 60-65 km/h or more, or winds that are gusting up to 90 km/h or more. Secure or put away loose objects such as outdoor furniture or garbage cans, put your car in the garage, and bring livestock to shelter.
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Before a storm
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Prepare your family and home
- Stock up on heating fuel and ready-to-eat food, as well as battery-powered or wind-up flashlights and radios - and extra batteries. For a complete list of emergency supplies, read more about emergency kits.
- Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm.
- Before a severe thunderstorm, unplug radios and televisions - listen for weather updates on your battery-powered radio.
- If heavy rain is forecast, consider checking the drainage around the house to reduce the possibility of basement flooding after a heavy rain.
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During a storm
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- Secure everything that might be blown around or torn loose - indoors and outdoors. Flying objects such as garbage cans and lawn furniture can injure people and damage property.
- Stay informed.
- If you are indoors, stay away from windows, doors and fireplaces. Depending on the severity of the storm and the forecast, you may want to go to the sheltered area that you and your family chose for your emergency plan.
- You can use a cellular telephone during a severe storm, but it is not safe to use a landline telephone.
- Never go out in a boat during a storm. If you are on the water and you see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately. Always check the marine forecast before leaving for a day of boating and listen to weather reports during your cruise.
- If you are in a car, stop the car away from trees or power lines that may fall on you. Stay there.
- On a farm, the effects of severe storms on livestock are lessened by moving animals to avoid the storm.
During a severe storm, you may experience:
During a blizzard:
- When a winter storm hits, stay indoors. If you must go outside, dress for the weather. Outer clothing should be tightly woven and water-repellent. The jacket should have a hood. Wear mittens (they are warmer than gloves) and a hat, as large portion of body heat is lost through the head.
- In wide-open areas, visibility can be virtually zero during heavy blowing snow or a blizzard. You can easily lose your way. If a blizzard strikes, do not try to walk to another building unless there is a rope to guide you or something you can follow.
- If you must travel during a winter storm, do so during the day and let someone know your route and arrival time.
- If your car gets stuck in a blizzard or snowstorm, remain calm and stay in your car. Allow fresh air in your car by opening the window slightly on the sheltered side - away from the wind. You can run the car engine about 10 minutes every half-hour if the exhaust system is working well. Beware of exhaust fumes and check the exhaust pipe periodically to make sure it is not blocked with snow. Remember: you cannot smell potentially fatal carbon monoxide fumes.
- To keep your hands and feet warm, exercise them periodically. In general, it is a good idea to keep moving to avoid falling asleep. If you do try to shovel the snow from around your car, avoid overexerting yourself.
During hail:
- Take cover when hail begins to fall. Do not go out to cover plants, cars or garden furniture or to rescue animals. Hail comes down at great speed, especially when accompanied by high winds. Although no one in Canada has ever been killed by hail, people have been seriously injured by it.
- When a hailstorm hits, stay indoors, and keep yourself and your pets away from windows, glass doors and skylights which can shatter if hit by hailstones. Avoid using the telephone during a storm, and do not touch metal objects like stoves, radiators, metal pipes, and sinks.
- When a hailstorm hits, find shelter and avoid underpasses or any low lying areas that may flood.
During an ice storm:
- Ice from freezing rain accumulates on branches, power lines and buildings. If you must go outside when a significant amount of ice has accumulated, pay attention to branches or wires that could break due to the weight of the ice and fall on you. Ice sheets could also do the same.
- During an ice storm, you may experience a power outage. Learn more about what to do during a power outage and how to report a power outage.
- Never touch power lines. A hanging power line could be charged (live) and you would run the risk of electrocution. Remember also that ice, branches or power lines can continue to break and fall for several hours after the end of the precipitation.
- When freezing rain is forecast, avoid driving. Even a small amount of freezing rain can make roads extremely slippery. Wait several hours after freezing rain ends so that road maintenance crews have enough time to spread sand or salt on icy roads.
- Rapid onsets of freezing rain combined with the risks of blizzards increase the chances for extreme hypothermia. If you live on a farm, move livestock promptly to shelter where feed is available. Forage is often temporarily inaccessible during and immediately after ice storms. Animal reactions to ice storms are similar to that of blizzards.
During lightning:
- If you can see lightning or hear thunder, you are in danger of being hit. Seek shelter immediately in either an enclosed building or a hard-topped vehicle.
- If you are caught in the open, do not lie flat. Crouch down with your feet close together and your head down (the "leap-frog" position). By minimizing your contact with the ground, you reduce the risk of being electrocuted by a ground charge.
- Wait 30 minutes after the last lightning strike in a severe storm before venturing outside again.
- Do not ride bicycles, motorcycles, tractors, golf carts or use metal shovels or golf clubs because they may conduct electricity.
During a thunderstorm:
- Stay indoors.
- Stay away from items that conduct electricity, such as corded telephones, appliances, sinks, bathtubs, radiators and metal pipes.
- Unplug radios and televisions. Listen for weather updates on your battery-powered radio.
- Do not go out to rescue the laundry on the clothesline, as it may conduct electricity.
- If you are outdoors when a thunderstorm hits, take shelter immediately, preferably in a building. If you cannot take shelter, find a depressed area such as a ditch, culvert or cave. Never go under a tree.
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After a storm
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- If your household experienced a power outage during the storm, review important safety tips following a Power Outage.
- Make sure that your household building is structurally safe; look for buckled walls or floors; watch for holes in the floor, broken glass and other potentially dangerous debris.
- If there is damage to your home, vehicle or other property as a result of the severe weather, check with your insurance provider to see if the damage may be covered by insurance.
- Review and discuss severe weather warning signs with your entire household to make sure everyone understands what to do in the event of a severe storm. Update your family emergency plan, if needed.
- Replenish your emergency kit, if needed.
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Additional severe storm information
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For additional information on severe storms, visit the federal government's Get Prepared, Severe Storms webpage.
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Tornadoes
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Ontario has an average 12 tornadoes a year. Most tornadoes occur between the months of May and September. Tracking where they will hit is more difficult to calculate. From the extreme southwest of the province to the farthest northern tip, a tornado can strike anywhere.
What is a tornado?
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A tornado is a powerful column of winds spiralling around a centre of low atmospheric pressure.
Also known as twisters, tornadoes often appear behind a shroud of heavy rain or hail in a sky that is green, yellow or black. A tornado can form quickly. They descend as roaring funnel clouds that can move at speeds of up to 90 kilometres per hour. Very large thunderstorms can spawn multiple tornadoes or a single tornado with a number of smaller but destructive vortices within it.
Tornadoes typically snake erratically from southwest to northeast. They can last for a few minutes or a few hours, and usually leave a path of destruction in their wake. Large or small, tornadoes can uproot trees, flip cars and demolish houses.
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Tornado warning signs
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Severe thunderstorms, with frequent thunder and lightning.
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An extremely dark sky, sometimes highlighted by green or yellow clouds.
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A rumbling sound or a whistling sound.
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A funnel cloud at the rear base of a thundercloud, often behind a curtain of heavy rain or hail.
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Before a tornado
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- Be prepared: ensure that your household has emergency plans and emergency kits in place.
- Review and discuss safety tips with your entire household to make sure everyone is aware tornado warning signs and understands what to do in the event of a tornado.
- Stay informed. Environment Canada is responsible for warning the public when conditions exist that may produce tornadoes. It does this through radio, television, newspapers, Twitter @ECAlertON117 and its Public Alerts webpage.
Prepare your family and home:
- Designate a safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. Include this in your emergency plan.
- Conduct a tornado drill so that everyone knows what to do if a tornado is approaching (e.g. practice going to your safe room).
- Remove dead or rotting trees and branches that could fall and cause injury or damage.
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During a tornado
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If you hear that a tornado warning has been issued for your area, find shelter for yourself, family members and pets and follow the instructions below.
If you are outdoors:
- Do not wait until you see the tornado to get inside.
- Do not get under an overpass or bridge. You are safer in a low, flat location. Preferably find shelter in a building with a strong foundation.
- If no shelter is available, lay flat in a nearby ditch or depression and cover your head with your hands. Beware of flooding from downpours and be prepared to move.
- Watch out for flying debris.
If you are in a house:
- Go to the basement or take shelter in a small interior ground floor room such as a bathroom, closet or hallway.
- If you have no basement, protect yourself by taking shelter under a heavy table or desk.
- In all cases, stay away from windows, outside walls and doors.
If you live on a farm:
- Livestock hear and sense impending tornadoes. If your family or home is at risk, the livestock will be a non-issue. If your personal safety is not an issue, you may only have time to open routes of escape for your livestock. Open the gate, if you must, and then exit the area in a direction away from the expected path of the twister.
If you are in an office or apartment building:
- Take shelter in an inner hallway or room, ideally in the basement or on the ground floor.
- Do not use the elevator.
- Stay away from windows.
If you are in a gymnasium, church or auditorium:
- Large buildings with wide-span roofs may collapse if a tornado hits. If possible, find shelter in another building.
- If you are in one of these buildings and cannot leave, take cover under a sturdy structure such as a table or desk.
If you are driving:
- If you spot a tornado in the distance, go to the nearest solid shelter. Avoid cars and mobile homes. More than half of all deaths from tornadoes happen in mobile homes. Find shelter elsewhere, preferably in a building with a strong foundation.
- If no shelter is available get out of your car and take cover in a low-lying area away from the car or mobile home. Beware of flooding from downpours and be prepared to move.
In all cases:
- Get as close to the ground as possible, protect your head and watch for flying debris.
- Do not chase tornadoes - they are unpredictable and can change course abruptly.
- A tornado is deceptive. It may appear to be standing still but is, in fact moving toward you.
During a tornado, your household may experience a power outage.
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After a tornado
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- If your household experienced a power outage during the tornado, review important safety tips following a Power Outage.
- Make sure that your household building is structurally safe; look for buckled walls or floors; watch for holes in the floor, broken glass and other potentially dangerous debris.
- If there is damage to your home, vehicle or other property as a result of the severe weather, check with your insurance provider to see if the damage may be covered by insurance.
- Review and discuss tornado warning signs with your entire household to make sure everyone understands what to do in the event of a tornado. Update your family emergency plan, if needed.
- Replenish your emergency kit, if needed.
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