Do you know what do in a power failure, flood or winter storm? Do you have everything you need during an emergency? Learn about some of the risks in your community and how you can prepare.
As global temperatures continue to rise and the world’s climate continues to destabilize, cities around the world are experiencing more extreme and unusual weather events including extreme temperatures, precipitation, droughts and storms. The incidence of extreme weather is expected to increase in frequency and severity in the years to come.
Check for weather alerts and advisories before you go outdoors:
Winter storms such as blizzards, ice storms and heavy snowfalls may create hazardous conditions, frozen or burst pipes and cause power disruptions. Health impacts associated with extreme cold include frostnip, frostbite and hypothermia.
Services for people experiencing homelessness
During an Extreme Cold Weather Alert, service providers focus on helping homeless people to get off the street and into shelter or street respite.
If you see someone in need of assistance contact 311 or central intake 1-877-338-3398 (free call).
Take steps to protect your pipes from freezing.
Heat waves are often accompanied by high humidity, which can make the temperature feel hotter and can decrease the ability for the body to cool itself. In the future, Toronto is expected to experience much higher temperatures and more extended heat waves.
The higher the temperature and the longer it lasts, the greater the risk of death during a heat wave. High levels of air pollution often occur during hot weather conditions. People with heart and lung conditions, seniors and children should pay special attention to the hourly Air Quality Health Index levels and forecasts.
The risk of power outages also increases during periods of extreme heat as the demand for electricity can exceed the capacity of the electrical system.
During the summer, the combination of high heat, humidity and smog can be life-threatening, especially for:
Severe storms such as tornados and hurricanes vary seasonally and can pose serious risks through rain, high winds, lightning and hail in any season. High-speed winds can cause death, injury and millions of dollars in property damage.
Lightning strikes and lightning injuries are infrequent in Toronto, but weather systems that may bring lightning can come with little warning.
Be prepared for an electrical storm by checking the weather forecast before leaving home for a day outdoors. In Canada, the Environment and Climate Change Canada website has the latest information.
If someone has been struck by lightning, call 911 immediately. People who have been struck by lighting may be in shock, and/or suffering from burns. If breathing has stopped, perform CPR until paramedics arrive. People who have been struck by lightning do not carry an electrical charge and can be safely handled right away.
If you are indoors, go to the basement immediately. If a basement is not available, take shelter in an interior hallway, small interior room or stairwell on the lowest floor, away from windows. Protect yourself under a sturdy table, desk or other heavy furniture if possible.
Avoid large, open spaces such as large halls, arenas and shopping malls.
If you are outdoors and cannot get to a sturdy building, lie flat in a ditch, ravine or other low-lying area and protect your head and neck. If you are in a vehicle, leave the vehicle and move to a low-lying area if it is safe to do so.
After the tornado has passed, call 9-1-1 if emergency assistance is required and a phone is available.
Fires and explosions can cause extensive damage to property through smoke and burn damage. They can commonly result in evacuations of large numbers of people, closure of roads, homes or businesses and even water damage from sprinkler systems or fire hoses.
High-rise buildings are designed to be more fire-safe than the average single-family dwelling. Floors and ceilings are constructed with fire-resistant materials and are separated into fire compartments. However, in the event of a fire, there are a number of things you can do to protect your family and your property.
Major rain storms can cause flooding, especially in low-lying areas. Flash floods may occur without warning as streams and rivers overflow their banks. Heavy rain may also cause sewers to back up.
For flooding related to rivers, the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority 24 hour flood line number is 416-661-6514. For basement flooding and sewer back-up, contact 311.
The risks associated with extreme rain include:
It is essential for property owners to take steps to reduce the risk of basement flooding on their own private property. The improvements that the City is making to its complex system of underground pipes, sewers and catch basins cannot completely protect your home from basement flooding.
More information:
More ways to reduce the risk of flooding
Maintain the trees on your property
If you are indoors:
If you are outdoors:
If you are in a vehicle:
If your basement floods:
For more information:
Riverine flooding:
The damage to your home from a flood can be overwhelming. The following resources can help guide you through the clean-up process after flooding has occurred:
Never enter a flooded area in your home or business due to a potential electrical shock hazard from electrically powered natural gas appliances or other electrical sources which may cause severe injury or death. Follow these flooding and natural gas safety tips for more information.
The SwimSafe name is an Official Mark trademarked by the City of Toronto.
Power failures and utility disruptions can be caused by failures in the system or external events such as severe weather. A power outage may last from a few minutes to a few days. Prolonged power outages in extreme hot or cold weather may put your health and safety at risk.
Conveniences we enjoy, such as elevators and running water, may be affected during a power outage. Your patience is needed and appreciated while these complex issues are resolved.
Toronto Hydro Power Disruption Hotline number is 416-542-8000
Call to report power failures, wires down, power quality problems and to speak to Customer Care.
Power outage centre on the web: Outages Map or on Twitter @TorontoHydro
During an extended power outage, your building’s property management staff or community organizations, such as the Canadian Red Cross, might visit you at home to make sure you are safe.
Enbridge Gas Distribution
If you smell natural gas or suspect a leak (smell of rotten eggs), leave the area and call 1-866-763-5427.
Don’t use your telephone or cellular phone. Call from a neighbour’s phone.
Health emergencies may be caused by the spread of communicable diseases and contaminants in air, food or water.
Contact your family doctor or health care provider immediately if you suspect that you or any member of your family has been exposed to a communicable disease.
Preventative Measures:
For more information visit Toronto Public Health.
About half of Ontario’s electricity comes from nuclear power. It helps power homes, hospitals and transit while providing low-carbon electricity.
Like aviation, nuclear energy is tightly regulated. Because nuclear power must be handled carefully, Canada has strong safety plans and regulations to protect people, infrastructure and the environment.
Toronto does not have a nuclear generating station but is located near two major stations in Durham Region: Pickering Nuclear Generating Station and Darlington Nuclear Generating Station. This page focuses primarily on Pickering because its detailed planning area extends into Toronto. Learn more about the station and the planned refurbishment.
Although the risk of a nuclear emergency is very low, the City of Toronto, Province of Ontario and other emergency response partners have plans in place to protect the public.
Nuclear facilities have multiple safety systems and trained operators that are able to shut down reactors and prevent or limit the release of any radioactive material. In the unlikely event of an emergency involving a release, radioactive material could travel through the air as an airborne plume. The primary hazard would be exposure to radioactive material in the air, either by breathing it in or coming into contact with contaminated materials.
Most nuclear emergencies allow hours to days for response, giving officials time to assess the situation and provide instructions before protective action is needed.
Radiation is part of everyday life. Radiation dose is measured in millisieverts (mSv), a unit used to describe the amount of radiation absorbed into one’s body. Everyone is exposed to small amounts from natural sources such as the sun, ground, air, food and water. In Canada, the average person receives approximately 1.8 mSv of natural background radiation each year.
For comparison, typical radiation doses include:
There is no single expected radiation dose during a nuclear emergency. Potential exposure would depend on factors such as the amount of radioactive material released, distance from the release, weather conditions and the protective actions taken. Officials use information from the station, computer modelling and radiation monitoring to determine which areas may be affected and what actions are needed.
The best way to stay safe during an emergency is to prepare ahead of time. Individuals can take steps to prepare themselves and their households by making a plan and gathering the emergency supplies they may need. Learn more about how to prepare so you are ready to respond when an emergency happens.
The main message to remember is:
During a nuclear emergency, the Province of Ontario will determine what protective actions are needed. Instructions will be shared through official emergency communications, including television, radio, online updates and emergency alerts.
Depending on the situation, people may be directed to:
Protective actions may be directed wherever they are needed. However, detailed arrangements are in place for the area extending approximately 10 km from the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station, known as the Detailed Planning Zone.
In Toronto, the Detailed Planning Zone includes an area bordered by Steeles Avenue to the north, Lake Ontario to the south, the Scarborough-Pickering border and Scarborough-Pickering Townline to the east and Morningside Avenue to the west.
Potassium iodide, also known as KI, is a form of stable, non-radioactive iodine. In the unlikely event of a nuclear emergency involving the release of radioactive iodine, KI can help prevent the thyroid gland from absorbing it.
KI only protects the thyroid from radioactive iodine. It does not protect other parts of the body or against other types of radiation. Continue to follow all official instructions, including instructions to stay indoors or evacuate.
Only take KI when directed by the Chief Medical Officer of Health for Ontario. Official instructions will explain where, when, how and by whom KI should be taken. Do not take KI as a precaution before being instructed.
Homes and businesses within 10 kilometres of the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station receive KI pills in advance. Anyone within 50 kilometres of a nuclear station can order free KI pills for delivery.
Visit Prepare to Be Safe for information about KI pills, including dosing, storage, expiry dates and health considerations.
Self-decontamination is not needed in every nuclear emergency. If you were outdoors during a radioactive release or think radioactive material may have settled on your clothing, skin or hair, self-decontamination can quickly reduce the amount of radioactive material on you and lower your exposure. Once you are indoors or have reached a safe destination, follow the steps below.
Self-decontamination does not replace other protective actions or any direction to report for monitoring. Continue to follow official instructions.
Rail is an efficient method of transporting people and freight over long distances. Over 194 kilometres of rail threads its way through the City of Toronto. Canadian National Railway (CN) and Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) are both national freight services and together own the majority of the rail network in Toronto. Rail safety is governed at the federal level through Transport Canada (TC) and the Canadian Transportation Agency (CTA).
Pursuant to Transport Canada Protective Direction 36, public disclosure of danger goods shipments requires railways to provide annual aggregated dangerous goods information regarding dangerous goods shipments that move through municipalities. The City has worked to make this information available publicly and consistently.
Rail companies are now required to provide information to the public about the dangerous goods that are transported through the City. This is implemented through Protective Direction 36, one of the tools used by Transport Canada to regulate rail transportation.
In 2017, dangerous goods made up less than 10 per cent of the total shipments for CN (8.9 per cent) and CP in 2016 (9.71 per cent). The largest dangerous good transferred by each company was Liquefied Petroleum Gases for CN (24.9 per cent) and Alcohol, N.O.S. for CP in 2016 (28.1 per cent). The City of Toronto has taken measures to ensure information is made public to residents. To view a list of top products classified as dangerous goods for the municipality, please view the following document:
CN Rail: Public Report on Dangerous Goods Transported in Toronto 2017
*This information has been made available through Transport Canada.
If you are indoors:
If you are outdoors:
If you are in your car:
Disruptions to the supply of fuel or natural gas can be caused by failures in the system, extreme weather or external pressures such as financial crisis.
Prolonged supply disruption could have secondary effects on food supply, transportation infrastructure and many other essential services.
If a building has collapsed, call 9-1-1 immediately and evacuate if it is safe to do so. If you cannot get out, take cover under a sturdy table or desk.
If you are trapped by debris, cover your nose and mouth with a cloth or clothing to reduce dust inhalation. Avoid unnecessary movement, as it can stir up more dust. If you have a cell phone, call 9-1-1 for assistance.
Use a flashlight, if available, to assess your surroundings. To help rescuers locate you, tap on a pipe or wall, use a whistle if you have one and shout only as a last resort to avoid inhaling excessive dust.
The City of Toronto is vulnerable to numerous hazards. The hazards can be natural such as extreme weather, human caused such as a cyber-attack, or technological such as utility failures and power failures. It’s our role to assess the risks, and determine which hazards are most likely to result in an emergency. As part of our legislated requirement, Toronto Emergency Management undertakes a comprehensive Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment.