Preparing for an Ice Storm: What You Need to Know

Published: Friday, January 10, 2020 - 5:30PM

By Alannah Franks

At Instant Weather, we have been closely monitoring a system that is expected to bring significant freezing rain to a large portion of Southern Ontario this weekend. At this point in time, a large swath of the province is expected to receive several hours of freezing rain, resulting in 20+ mm of ice. Our latest forecast can be found here. This amount of ice accretion, mixed with potential wind gusts of 40-75 km/h, indicates a Category 5 ice storm on the Sperry-Piltz Ice Accumulation (SPIA) Index. This level of storm can cause catastrophic damage to infrastructure and the possibility of widespread and very long-term power outages.

SPIA Index, Copyright Author: Sidney K. Sperry

It is important to be prepared for these situations so we have put together a list of items you should have on hand in case of an emergency:

  • Flashlight (windup or battery operated)

  • Radio (windup or battery operated)

  • Extra batteries

  • Portable cell phone charger

  • Water (2 litres per person per day)

  • Non-perishable canned or dried food

  • Manual can opener

  • Blankets

  • Candles and matches or lighters

  • First aid kit and any prescriptions/medical items

  • List of emergency numbers

  • Cash

  • Gasoline

Not sure what kind of food to have ready? Dried food like rice and pasta along with canned tuna can go a long way. Other items such as bread and granola bars are good for fibre and non-refrigerated fruits like bananas, oranges and apples help break up the high-sodium content found in dried foods. For water, an easy way to store a large amount is to fill a bathtub and use the water for drinking, cooking, and flushing toilets.

Since ice storms occur during the winter and early spring months, keeping warm is a major concern during extended power outages from ice storms. Electric baseboard heaters and space heaters will not work. However, natural gas furnaces will still work, but electrical components such as the blower, which forces the warm air through the vents, will not. There are some propane heaters that can be used indoors, but be careful because outdoor propane heaters produce carbon monoxide, making them very dangerous to use inside a home.

Another item worth adding to your emergency kit arsenal is a generator. Generators are available in a variety of sizes and capacities based on individual needs. There are a few things to consider when picking a generator: type, power and additional features.

There are home standby generators that are permanently in place and start up automatically when the power goes out. These units are large and can be quite expensive. There are also smaller, portable generators that either run strictly on gas or on either gas or propane (dual fuel). There is an added benefit of running your generator on propane as it less expensive to run.

Every generator has two power ratings: starting watts and running watts. In order to determine the power of generator you need, you first need to determine what appliances will be running. In the event of an emergency, you may find that the only necessities are the fridge and furnace fan.

Source: Canadian Tire - Running and starting wattages of common appliances

It is EXTREMELY important to not run a generator in your house due to the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

With proper planning and preparation, everyone should be able to get through the stress that comes with extended periods without power. In the case of an ice storm, it’s important to stay indoors and reduce unnecessary travel. Also, we recommend not clogging up emergency lines with non-emergencies. Your power will be back before you know it!