| Severe Storms |
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| Be Prepared ... Not Scared |
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Thunderstorms, tornadoes, hail, blizzards, high winds and heavy rain can develop quickly and hit hard - posing a threat to life and property. If you are like most Canadians you have probably had to clean up after these storms and you know the damage they cause. Some problems cannot be prevented. High winds will topple trees and heavy rains will cause rivers to flood. But some damage can be avoided or at least reduced, if you take a few simple precautions such as knowing the type of storms common to your area and what time of year they are likely to strike. The purpose of this document is to help you prepare for severe weather by listing a few steps which you can take to protect your family, yourself, and your property when a severe storm hits your area. |
| Listen For The Warnings |
| Environment Canada monitors the weather 24-hours a day, seven days a week. If a severe storm is on the horizon, the weather service issues watches, advisories and warnings through national, regional and local radio and television stations, and Environment Canada’s Weatheradio. |
Severe weather is happening or hazardous weather is highly probable. If a weather warning is issued for a tornado, it means that one or more tornadoes have been observed or are forecast for the specified area. Other warnings include those for a severe thunderstorm, blizzard, high winds, heavy snow, snow squall, heavy rain and significant freezing rain. |
| Be Prepared |
| Storms such as tornadoes often strike too quickly to allow you to choose a shelter or to pack an emergency kit. You may want to have a plan that outlines where you will go and how you will keep in touch with members of your family if a severe storm hits. Municipal, provincial and territorial emergency measures organizations can provide valuable advice to help you prepare for emergencies. |
| CHOOSE YOUR SHELTER AREA |
| A basement, storm cellar or a closet beneath the stairs are good places to take shelter in the event of a severe storm. If none of these is available, sit underneath a sturdy piece of furniture on the ground floor in the centre of the building away from the outside walls and windows. Be sure you discuss the shelter area with your family. |
| PACK AN EMERGENCY KIT |
| This should include food, clothing, blankets, medication, water purification tablets and firstaid and tool kits as well as flashlights and a battery-powered radio - with extra batteries for both. |
| REDUCE THE HAZARDS |
| Trim dead or rotting branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling on your house. You may also want to consider checking the drainage around the house to reduce the possibility of your basement flooding after a heavy rain. |
| CHOOSE A PLACE TO MEET |
| When a severe storm strikes, members of your household may be at work, school or a friend’s place. To avoid unnecessary worry, plan a meeting place or some system of communicating with one another to check that everyone is safe. |
| WHEN A SEVERE STORM IS FORECAST |
| Severe weather can occur any time of the year, winter or summer. Make it a habit to listen to the local radio or television stations for severe weather warnings and advice. Make sure you have a battery-powered radio on hand as the electricity frequently fails during a severe storm. 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. If hail is forecast, you may want to protect your car by putting it in the garage. Never venture out in a boat. If you are on the water and you see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately. Always check the marine forecast first before leaving for a day of boating and listen to weather reports during your cruise. If you are advised by officials to evacuate, do so. Take your emergency kit with you. If you are outdoors when a storm hits, take shelter immediately. Stay calm. You will be able to cope better with emergencies. |
| THINGS TO DO AFTER THE STORM |
| Listen to your radio for information and follow instructions. Give first aid to people who are injured or trapped. Get help if necessary. Unless you are asked to help or are qualified to give assistance, please stay away from damaged areas. Do not go near loose or dangling power lines. Report them and any broken sewer and water mains to the authorities. Report fires to the fire department. Be alert to prevent fires, as broken water mains may cause a reduction in water pressure. Lightning and downed power lines can cause fires. Know how to fight small fires. Water supplies may be contaminated so purify your water by boiling it for 10 minutes, or by adding water purification tablets, or by adding one drop of unscented chlorine bleach to one litre of water (or three drops for cloudy water). If you use chlorine bleach to purify the water, stir the bleach in and wait 30 minutes before drinking. The water should have a slight chlorine smell. Please leave the telephone lines free for official use. Do not use the telephone, except in real emergencies. Drive cautiously and only if necessary. Debris, broken power lines and washed out or icy roads and bridges will make driving dangerous after a severe storm. Please give way to emergency vehicles at all times. Finally, if the power has been off for several hours, check the food in the refrigerator and freezer to check if it has spoiled. |
DISCLAIMER: For more information on emergency preparedness, please contact your provincial / territorial emergency measures organization. PROVINCIAL / TERRITORIAL EMERGENCY MEASURES ORGANIZATIONS British Columbia Provincial Emergency Program (PEP) Phone: (250) 952-4913 Fax: (250) 952-4888 Yukon Emergency Measures Organization Phone: (867) 667-5220 Fax: (867) 393-6266 Alberta Disaster Services Branch Phone: (780) 422-9000 Fax: (780) 422-1549 Toll free in Alberta, dial 310-0000-780-427-9000 Northwest Territories Emergency Measures Organization Phone: (867) 920-6133 Fax: (867) 873-8193 Saskatchewan Saskatchewan Municipal Affairs and Housing Protection and Emergency Services Phone: (306) 787-9563 Fax: (306) 787-1694 Manitoba Manitoba Emergency Management Organization (MEMO) Phone: (204) 945-4772 Fax: (204) 945-4620 Ontario Emergency Measures Ontario Phone: (416) 314-3723 Fax: (416) 314-3758 Quebec Territorial Directorate Phone: (418) 646-7950 Fax: (418) 646-5427 Or one of the regional directorates: Montréal (514) 873-1300 Montérégie et Estrie (514) 873-1324 Laval, Lanaudière et Laurentides (514) 873-1300 Outaouais, Abitibi - Témiscamingue et Nord du Québec (819) 772-3737 Bas-Saint-Laurent, Gaspésie et Îles-de la-Madeleine (418) 727-3589 Saguenay, Lac-Saint-Jean et Côte-Nord (418) 695-7872 Capitale-Nationale, Chaudière-Appalaches et Nunavik (418) 643-3244 Mauricie et Centre-du-Québec (819) 371-6703 Or one of the regional offices: Sherbrooke (819) 820-3631 Saint-Jérôme (450) 569-7565 Joliette (450) 757-7996 Rouyn-Noranda (819) 763-3636 Gaspé (418) 360-8097 Baie-Comeau (418) 295-4903 Baie-Saint-Paul (418) 435-2530 New Brunswick New Brunswick Emergency Measures Organization Phone: (506) 453-2133 Fax: (506) 453-5513 Nova Scotia Nova Scotia Emergency Measures Organization Phone: (902) 424-5620 Fax: (902) 424-5376 Prince Edward Island Emergency Measures Organization Phone: (902) 888-8050 Fax: (902) 888-8054 24/7 Inquiry Line: (902) 892-9365 Newfoundland and Labrador Emergency Measures Division Phone: (709) 729-3703 Fax: (709) 729-3857 Nunavut Nunavut Emergency Management Phone: (867) 979-6262 Fax: (867) 979-4221 To obtain copies of this or other information in the self-help advice series: (1) Floods : What to do before and after; (2) Prepared for the Woods; (3) Prepare to Survive a Major Earthquake; (4) Severe Storms; (5) Winter Driving : you, your car and winter storms; (6) Winter Power Failures, contact: OFFICE OF CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE PROTECTION AND EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS Communications 122 Bank Street, 2nd Floor Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0W6 Phone: (613) 991-7035 Toll free: 1-800-830-3118 Fax: (613) 998-9589 E-mail: communications@epc-pcc.gc.ca Internet: http://www.epc-pcc.gc.ca or Your LOCAL RED CROSS Office E-mail: feedback@redcross.ca Internet: www.redcross.ca This information is available from SAFE GUARD through partnership agreements. An electronic version of this information is available on the Internet. It is also available in alternate formats (audio cassette, large print,computer diskette and braille) through InfoTouch by calling toll-free 1-800-788-8282. Use the same number for teletypewriter (TTY). Cette information est aussi disponible en français. Elle s’intitule: Se préparer non s’inquiéter. Vous aussi pouvez vous préparer à affronter les urgences. Acknowledgements with thanks:
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Minister of Public Works and Government Services SAFE GUARD is a national information program based on partnerships and aimed at increasing public awareness of emergency preparedness in Canada. The SAFE GUARD program brings together government, private organizations and voluntary agencies that are part of the emergency preparedness, response, recovery and mitigation community. SAFE GUARD Emergency Preparedness Partners in Canada is an Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness program.