How to weather severe storms this winter

Those wishing for a postcard-worthy White Christmas faced a rude awakening last year across many parts of Ontario. The holiday season featured devastating weather that left hundreds of thousands of people in the dark.

“Few of us will forget the aftermath of that ice storm, all of which caused a number of significant electrical safety hazards,” says Scott Saint, the Chief Public Safety Officer at the Electrical Safety Authority. “It's important that we take the lessons learned to keep our families safe this holiday season.”

Start with this checklist:

• Trees: Heavy snow and ice can bring tree branches down onto powerlines, leading to blackouts and electrically charged hazards. Before a winter storm hits, check the trees around your property and call your local hydro company to trim branches away from overhead powerlines.

• Heating: Staying warm is a top priority on cold winter nights, but you need to do some research before buying portable heaters and electric blankets. Make sure your products carry a recognized certification mark.

• Flooding and water: Melting ice and snow can cause flooding in your home. Don't plug in any electrical appliances that have been in contact with water and stay away from your electrical systems until a licensed electrical contractor can check and repair them.

• Generators: In power-outage situations, portable generators can provide security, warmth and comfort. But be careful to only operate generators in dry, well-ventilated areas to avoid carbon monoxide poisoning, and never use them indoors.

Additional winter storm safety tips can be found at www.esasafe.com.

www.newscanada.com