Table of Contents
Power outages are a fact of life, even in a well-connected city like Scarborough. Blackouts can disrupt daily routines and create safety risks, whether caused by severe weather, equipment failure, or planned upgrades. Staying prepared is essential to ensure your household remains safe, comfortable, and connected during an outage.
From assembling emergency kits to investing in reliable backup energy solutions, we will walk you through practical steps to confidently navigate outages no matter the cause.
What Can Cause a Power Outage in Scarborough?
Electricity outages are a common occurrence anywhere, and Scarborough is no exception.
There are several reasons for blackouts in Scarborough, but here are the most common ones.
Severe Weather
Severe weather, including wind storms, snow, ice storms, and even heat waves, is the most common cause of outages. One of the leading causes of blackouts during severe weather is when trees or branches fall on electrical lines or electrical infrastructure, damaging them.
Animal Interference
Animals, especially birds and rodents, can sometimes interfere with lines or equipment and cause unexpected outages.
Accidents
Vehicle and construction accidents involving collisions with lines, utility poles, or equipment can also cause blackouts.
Peak Demand
Electricity demand varies naturally throughout the day, with the highest amounts seen during peak demand periods. This is why electrical companies often use electricity demand charges, charging you more during peak hours to encourage people to schedule their usage to use more electricity during off-peak times.
However, demand also peaks seasonally during summer heatwaves from air conditioner use or severe winter storms when additional heaters are run. Too much demand on the grid can cause blackouts. This is also when you need that AC or heat to keep your family safe, so being prepared is critical.
Equipment Failure
Equipment like transformers, transmission or distribution lines, or other electrical equipment, especially aging infrastructure, can sometimes malfunction or break down.
Planned Outages
Equipment upgrades result in planned outages, like what might happen in your neighbourhood over the next several years with Toronto Hydro’s upgrade to replace its aging infrastructure. These are the only outages for which you receive advanced warnings so that you can prepare for them.
How To Prepare for a Power Outage in Scarborough
1. Prepare Your Emergency Supplies Kit
Every home should have an emergency supply kit with 3 days’ worth of non-perishable food, water, and essential medicines for the entire family, including furry or feathered family members! Keep all your supplies in a waterproof bin that can quickly be carried with you in case of evacuation or a medical emergency.
2. First Aid Kit
A fully stocked first aid kit is essential for any emergency. Keep one in a convenient location inside your home and another inside your emergency kit.
3. Purchase a Backup Power Supply
The best backup energy sources are EcoFlow Portable Power Stations. Since they don’t use fossil fuels, there is no need to worry about potentially deadly carbon monoxide poisoning, so you can use them safely indoors without any health concerns. Then, you can keep your fridge, medical equipment, heater, or air conditioner running to stay safe and comfortable no matter the weather.
The best part is they come in a wide range of capacities to suit your energy needs. For instance, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Series Solar Generator (PV160W) starts at 1kWh, which can be expanded to 5kWh, a suitable capacity for the average home. For extended blackouts, simply recharge it with the 160W portable solar panel.
Alternatively, for more energy and faster solar charging, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) starts at 4.1kWh and comes with a 400W portable solar panel for the fastest solar recharge option. Alternatively, for those with even higher energy needs, the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra Portable Power Station starts at an impressive 6kWh capacity that can be expandable to 90kWh to run even the largest homes during extended blackouts.
4. Have LED Flashlights Ready
Rechargeable LED flashlights and lanterns are your safest and simplest option. Candles are a fire hazard, and traditional flashlights with batteries are inefficient and require frequent battery replacements. In contrast, rechargeable models can easily be recharged with your portable power station. Keep one accessible and another one in your emergency kit.
5. Blankets and Warm Clothes
Keep extra blankets and warm clothes for every family member with your emergency supplies if you need to leave in a hurry. If you stay home, close all the doors, windows, and curtains, and put everyone in the same room. You can heat a single room efficiently using a portable heater plugged into your backup energy source.
6. Keep Your Car Gas Tank Topped Up
Speaking of leaving in a hurry, keep your gas tank topped up for emergencies since you may not be able to get any during an outage.
7. Protect Sensitive Electronics
If you have sensitive electronics, they should be plugged into a quality surge-protector power strip. However, the best option is to plug them into your EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station, which works as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). That way, you won’t damage your electronics when the electricity goes out or surges when it returns.
8. Have an Emergency Plan
Now that your items are prepared, sit down with your family and create an emergency plan. It should include what to do in an emergency, where the emergency supplies are located, who to call, what to do if communications systems are down, and having a safe meeting place in case a family member is not home. Practice your plan at least once a year.
9. Stay Alert and Informed
Most outages aren’t planned, so preparation is vital. You can stay alert to severe weather warnings in your area so you know what to expect. When you experience an outage, you can check Toronto Hydro’s Power Outage Map for information and updates on when to expect it to return.
Final Thoughts
Power outages in Scarborough can happen unexpectedly, but you can stay safe, comfortable, and in control with a little preparation. Equip your home with an emergency supply kit with food, water, and first aid, and plan for your family’s needs, like blankets, warm clothes, and essential medicines.
Also, invest in a dependable backup power solution like EcoFlow Portable Power Stations, which have no fossil fuels and are perfectly safe to use indoors. This eco-friendly, versatile option ensures you’ll have energy for your essential appliances, helps you stay connected, and can help you stay warm or cool no matter the weather.
Now get prepared and stay safe, everyone.