Hurricane Teddy is approaching Nova Scotia and while this morning it appears to be tracking to the northeast of central Halifax, in our recent experience hurricanes seem to ‘make up their minds’ when they are in sight of land.
The direction the storm takes could see it land anywhere from Sambro to Canso right now, so it is important to be prepared.
This post contains the official HRM update, NS Power update, and a list of practical things you can do to personally prepare, lovingly crowdsourced from my friends on Facebook.
Also, note that election signs will be removed and not reinstated until the storm has passed to reduce the likelihood of flying debris.
Please follow http://halifax.ca/hfxgov, have a battery operated radio ready to go to listen to local radio.
Should we end up getting hit by a serious storm, please help your neighbours, lend a hand, be kind, and be patient.
Continue to call 911 in an emergency. Call 311 for downed trees and flooding. Call NSPI for power for downed lines 877-428-6004.
Follow my EMO twitter list here: https://twitter.com/WayeMason/lists/emo-yhz
HRM Updates here: https://www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/emergency-management/hurricanes
Provincial updates here: https://novascotia.ca/alerts/hurricane-teddy/
Halifax EMO Update
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents to prepare in advance for the possible effects of Hurricane Teddy, expected to arrive in the Halifax region early next week.
The largest threat to homes and property is flying debris. Please move umbrellas and patio furniture inside and remove anything that high winds could pick up such as garbage containers/bags, flower pots, toys, temporary signage, sports equipment, and any other objects located near the right of way.
To reduce the likelihood of flooding, residents who are able to do so safely are asked to clear debris from catch basins located near their property prior to the storm.
If you live on the coast or in a low-lying area near the coast, be ready to move inland or to higher ground in the event of a significant storm.
Those responsible for construction sites and other outdoor work spaces where significant debris may be present are urged to ensure their sites are clear of loose debris that could create a public safety concern.
Municipal staff will begin removing all barrels and barricades currently in place on designated ‘slow streets’ as part of the municipality’s Mobility Response Plan. The ‘slow streets’ were expected to remain in place until Sept. 30, however, due to anticipated high winds, they will be removed early and will not be reinstated.
Any municipal service level adjustments, including transit, solid waste collection and parks and recreation, will be communicated to the public with as much advanced notice as possible.
Safety is the municipality’s top priority. The Halifax Regional Municipality’s Emergency Management Division will be monitoring weather forecasts in the coming days as Hurricane Teddy heads for our region.
To learn about hurricane preparedness and how to keep your family safe, visit halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/emergency-management/hurricanes.
Residents are urged to sign-up for hfxALERT, the municipality’s mass notification system. Subscribers will receive urgent and non-urgent public alerts by phone, email or text. Sign up here.https://www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/emergency-management/hfxalert
Please visit Halifax.ca or follow @hfxgov on Twitter for all storm-related updates.
NS Power Update
Nova Scotia Power is mobilizing personnel and resources in advance of Hurricane Teddy’s expected arrival in Nova Scotia on Tuesday.
“We have been closely monitoring Hurricane Teddy for several days and taking steps to prepare,” said Matt Drover, Nova Scotia Power’s storm lead. “Based on the recent weather forecasts and the tropical storm models, we will be opening the Emergency Operations Centre on Sunday to ensure proper plans are in place and crews and contactors are secured in advance of potential storm impacts. We are taking every precaution and will be ready to respond to Hurricane Teddy.”
Nova Scotia Power is activating its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) at noon on Sunday to plan and prepare to manage its storm response. The EOC provides centralized coordination for outage restoration planning and response as well as liaison with the Nova Scotia Emergency Management Office (EMO). It is staffed with employees representing all aspects of the company.
Customer Safety
Nova Scotia Power encourages customers to plan for their safety. Some tips include having an emergency kit that includes flashlights, a battery-powered radio and fresh water, ensuring backup generators are installed properly outdoors, and charging electronic devices. If you lose power, turn off and unplug electrical equipment, such as televisions and computers to prevent damage when power is restored. Visit www.nspower.ca/stormready for a full list of safety and storm preparedness tips.
Some Practical Recommendations for Storm Preparedness
Clean:
– do your laundry, especially kids clothes, towels, underwear
– make sure all dishes are done
– take a shower
– clean to the room where you will mostly hang out if the power goes out. Makes for a better experience if you are waiting out the storm.
Food and drink:
– Pre-grind your whole bean coffee (if you are fancy, that is)
– Cook and bake in preparation, example hard-cooked eggs
– Canned & shelf stable food and snacks
– ice packs or bottles of water or plastic containers in the freezer, and deep freeze if you have one. Idea is to fill all available space now so it freezes solid and will stay cold longer.
– stash of BBQ-able meat in the kitchen freezer so won’t have to open the deep freeze if you have one
– Make the fridge colder than usual so it stays colder longer
– make a big pot of soup/stew/chowder that can be re-heated on the wood stove/bbq/coleman
– if you are able make sure you have some way to cook that does not require electricity – stove for camping, bbq, etc
– lots and lots of buckets of water (more important on a well, very unlikely to be needed on city water)- Check pet supply food
Life with no power:
– flashlights, tea lights, but careful with candles as they can be a fire hazzard
– tether any BBQ to the railing & tie-down patio furniture or bring indoors/shed
– if you keep your freezer(s) closed, things will stay frozen for 24+hours. If power is out longer than that, please don’t throw stuff away. Fire up the BBQ or camp stove and cook stuff for you and your community. Or give stuff away to neighbours who can cook it.
– Freeze a container of water and put a quarter on top of it in your freezer and you can tell how much things thawed if that power goes out.
– Lots of things downloaded and printed in case school goes down
– full tank of gas/full charge in the car/vehicle
– get some cash out
– Do not use your powerless stove as a worktop/storage surface, when the power comes on history has shown lots of stoves still have burns turned on and the burners set the stuff on fire.
Be Prepared:
– have a 72 hour pack ready, incase you need to leave your home – https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/yprprdnssgd/index-en.aspx
– As Frankie says – have your pizza, ready. Have your flashlights, ready. Have your Chinese food, ready. BE PREPARED.