Residents Encouraged to Prepare For Significant Freezing Rain, Risk Of Power Outages
- Ward 5 Staff
- Mar 10
- 2 min read
Environment Canada has issued a significant freezing rain warning, expected to begin either tonight (March 10) or early Wednesday morning (March 11) and lasting through Wednesday or Wednesday night. It may come with an ice buildup of 10 to 20 mm.
Given the potential for significant ice buildup, Hydro Ottawa says there is a risk of downed tree branches and localized power outages. They’re encouraging residents to be prepared in case of interruptions and to have supplies on hand that would allow them to be self-sufficient for up to 72 hours, if needed.
● Gather items for an emergency kit that includes things like: medicine, first aid supplies,
flashlights, new batteries, a battery-operated radio, a manual can opener, canned food, bottled water, blankets, pet food, and important documents and telephone numbers.
● Charge mobile devices and laptops.
● For those requiring an uninterrupted supply of power for specialized medical equipment, ensure you have a back-up supply in place or a plan to relocate to a facility that can assist you.
● For those with mobile disabilities who live in a building that requires the use of an elevator, be sure to inform the building’s management that you may need assistance.
Hydro Ottawa links to resources and guidance on:
If outages occur, residents are advised to visit Hydro Ottawa's Outage Map, which is updated every 15 minutes as new information is available. The Hydro One Outage map is here.
Hydro Ottawa relies on customers to help pinpoint the cause of an outage. You can report an outage or safety concern directly to them by:
● Through the Hydro Ottawa app;
● Texting “OUT” to PWROUT (797688); or
● Calling the 24/7 outage hotline at 613-738-0188
Resident support is required
Are you ready? To help ensure your safety and the safety of your family, now is a good time prepare your emergency kit. Watch this quick video:
Service requests should only be created for emergencies, such as downed tree limbs blocking sidewalks, roads or the cycling network.
During periods of higher snowmelt and rainfall, residents are reminded to monitor sump pumps and overland drainage.
Remember: no ice is safe ice. Residents should exercise caution and to supervise children and pets around all waterways.
Current flooding situation
The local Rideau, South Nation, and Mississippi Conservation Authorities have each issued Flood Watches in preparation for the additional precipitation forecast in this weather event. The levels on the Ottawa River are close to seasonal values with slight increases in levels expected in the Ottawa area.
While widespread flooding is not anticipated, water levels and flows on the Rideau River and smaller waterways may increase with possible flooding in low-lying areas, including ditches, swales, and stormwater features.
The Spring Freshet Task Force will continue to monitor conditions. Residents are encouraged to monitor river conditions. Information on sandbags and forecasting partner websites can be found at Ottawa.ca on the Spring flooding page.
Keep an eye on this website (ClarkeKelly.ca) and social media for updates on any road closures or areas of concern.
