Winter power outages: How to prepare and respond in complete safety

Keep an emergency kit ready in case of power outage

Your basic emergency plan should include an emergency kit that provides for your basic needs for at least 72 hours. You should include:

• lighting devices (flashlight or headlamp, battery-operated or regular candles, matches or lighters);
• spare batteries (for all devices included in your kit);
• drinking water;
• nonperishable food;
• nontoxic antifreeze liquid; and
• battery-powered radio to keep up to date with developments.

Always carry nonperishable food in stock

• canned foods (fruits, vegetables and proteins);
• pasta and rice;
• cereal bars;
• crackers and cookies;
• dried legumes (peas, lentils, etc.);
• dehydrated soup and meal mixes;
• nuts, seeds and peanut butter;
• milk and other beverages that can be stored without refrigeration; and
• cereals (granola, muesli or other), etc.

Tip: Make sure you have a manual can opener and scissors.

Find safe methods of feeding yourself

Grilling on a barbecue is one of the best solutions during power outages … provided it’s done outside and not in your garage, well away from air intakes. Tip: if you don’t use your barbecue all year round, don’t store it in the back of your garden shed. Doing so will let you put it back into service quickly, should the need arise. Be sure to keep a full propane tank as well.

A fondue set can also come in handy for a few evenings, but it is not a long-term option, as it involves both the risk of explosion and serious burns. Tip: make sure you have a good supply of fuel – preferably in gelled capsules.

Your other options for feeding yourself in the event of a power outage:

• prepare cold meals from canned food;
• call upon a meal delivery service;
• go to a restaurant (and enjoy warming up in the process); and
• accept invitations from friends and family.

Avoid opening your fridge and freezer unnecessarily to preserve your food for longer.

• Visit the Ministère de l’Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l’Alimentation du Québec website to find out about food storage lifetimes. Some products in your fridge will need to be disposed of after 4 to 6 hours, while others will last for some time at room temperature. In the freezer, your food can be kept for 24h if your appliance is half-full, or 48h if it’s full. After that, they can no longer be consumed.
• Use coolers to store perishable foods for longer and store them outside, in the snow or on your balcony.

Are you covered by your home insurance for loss of food in the event of a power outage?

Claim eligibility with your insurer depends on whether or not your home insurance policy includes coverage for the loss of food stored in your freezer. Bear in mind that there’s typically a limit of $1000 and a deductible to pay ranging from $300 to $500. It’s ultimately up to you to decide whether it’s worth it to file a claim with your insurer.

Install an auxiliary room heater

During a power outage, fireplaces and auxiliary heaters powered by wood or gas and equipped with a battery back-up are convenient for maintaining a comfortable temperature inside your home.

• Always keep a good supply of dry, hardwood logs ready in case of a prolonged blackout to protect you from the cold.
• Dispose of cooled ashes in a metal container with a lid before bringing them outdoors, well away from any combustible materials.
• Do not wait for a breakdown before maintaining your equipment. Ideally, the chimney of a fireplace or wood-burning stove needs to be swept every autumn, or as soon as a creosote deposit exceeding 3mm appears on the wall.

Frequently check that smoke and carbon monoxide alarms are operating properly

If you rely on a fuel-burning appliance – fuel oil, gas or wood –, make sure you have a battery-powered carbon monoxide detector (one per floor, and especially near bedrooms). Tip: if you need to replace them, favour combination models (electric and battery-powered).

Purchase a portable generator

A portable generator powered by fuel, gas (propane or natural gas) or a combination of the two (hybrid) will provide you with a source of energy should you run out of power for an extended period of time, whatever the season. It’ll give you the power you need for lighting, heating and even some essential household appliances. Hybrid models are interesting because they allow you to extend the generator’s autonomy in case you run out of fuel. Before investing in a generator, first identify the appliances you wish to connect to it. This will help you determine the power requirements for your generator:

• Add up the total wattage consumption of all selected appliances – this information is usually available in the user manual or on a label found on the appliance.
• Allow a safety margin of 25% to absorb start-up loads.

Other specifications must also be taken into account: autonomy, weight, starting system and noisiness. CAA-Quebec members can take advantage of our Residential Advisory Services to help them select the right model.

Tip: For a safer installation, have your generator connected to the electrical panel by a master electrician. If you haven’t already done so, replace your traditional light bulbs with compact fluorescent or LED bulbs. This will boost your lighting energy tenfold.

Not sure which is best between a standard or inverter generator?

A standard model will meet most consumer needs. On the other hand, if you want to use appliances that are sensitive to voltage ripples (computer, TV, etc.), an inverter generator may be a better choice.

What can be done until power is restored?

• Check Hydro-Québec’s Power outages page for a summary of outages in each region as well as information on the duration of any outage. Yours isn’t shown? Report it!
• Unplug your electrical appliances and electronic devices, especially those sensitive to voltage ripples, to prevent them from being impaired by power surges when service is restored.
• Do you own a sump pump? Prevent the water table from rising by connecting it to a battery. It must be able to continue its work even in the absence of electrical power.
• For information on what to do in the event of a power outage, visit the Ministère de la Sécurité publique’s website (in French only).
• Last but not least, if you need to leave your home, prevent pipe breakage resulting from freezing by closing the water inlet valve, draining taps and pouring nontoxic antifreeze liquid down toilets and drainpipes.