This summer, you must be prepared for extreme weather conditions

Vaughan and rest of Ontario are experiencing severe weather, writes Andrew Zvanitajs

Yorkregion.com
Aug. 4, 2023
Andrew Zvanitajs

The summer months can bring severe weather to Vaughan and the rest of Ontario.

Thunderstorms, heavy rainfall, hail and even tornadoes are most common from May to September. It’s essential to be prepared, so you and your family can endure any power outages or damages caused by extreme weather.

To help make sure everyone stays safe, follow these tips:

SEVERE RAINSTORMS

• When thunder roars, go indoors. Stay inside for at least 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder. If you can hear thunder, you can get hit by lightning.
• If you’re stuck outdoors, go to a low-lying area away from tall, isolated objects — like trees or hydro poles — and crouch down.

FLOODING

• Don’t shut off electricity if any water has entered your home. Water and live electrical wires don’t mix and can be lethal. Leave immediately and only return when authorities indicate it’s safe to do so.
• Stay away from fast-flowing streams, rivers and areas known to flood.

TORNADOES

• Go to an underground shelter, basement or safe room.
• If there is no basement, go to the centre of an interior room on the lowest level of your home, away from corners, windows and doors.
• Get under a sturdy piece of furniture and use your arms to protect your head and neck.
• If you’re stuck outdoors, lie flat in a ditch and cover your head. Don’t go under an overpass or bridge.

POWER OUTAGES

• Turn off all tools, appliances and electronic equipment in your home.
• Don’t open your freezer or fridge unless necessary -- a full freezer will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed.
• Listen to a battery-powered or crank radio for information on the outage and instructions from authorities.

The best advice I can give you is to be prepared before an emergency strikes. There are a few ways to do that:

• Assemble an emergency kit with enough supplies to last 72 hours. It should include blankets, clothes, a flashlight with extra batteries, food and water, activities, a first aid kit and a whistle. For a complete list of the recommended items, visit vaughan.ca/EmergencyPlanning.
• Make an emergency preparedness plan for your family so everyone knows what to do if one strikes. A template found at www.vaughan.ca can be used to make your plan and learn more about responding to different emergencies and steps to take if you need to shelter in place or evacuate.
• Know where to get reliable information and sign up to receive weather alerts. For news as it happens, subscribe to Vaughan News and follow the city’s official corporate channels on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.

Knowing what actions to take before, during and after an emergency can help minimize stress and prevent injuries or damages. For more information, visit vaughan.ca/EmergencyPlanning.

Andrew Zvanitajs is the fire chief of the Vaughan Fire and Rescue Service.