Weather Event Response Update

Weather Event Response Update for May 29, 2022.

Ward Updates on Power Restoration

Hydro Ottawa staff have advised that they will provide Councillor King with a Ward update tomorrow (May 30).  When the update is provided it will be circulated to the community verbatim. 

Hydro Ottawa continues to make progress in restoring power to residents. As of this evening, there are 9,000 customers who remain without power and 171,000 customers have had power restored.

Hydro Ottawa is asking customers to report downed power lines or outages, through its 24/7 outage line at 613-738-0188 or report it online. This will ensure that the outage is automatically tied to your residence and that Hydro crews who are working 24x7 to restore the city are notified immediately.

Damaged trees and brush

Please note that large-scale tree removal continues to be prioritized in City parks, with a focus on uprooted trees and immediate hazards. We will need to revisit these parks for additional tree work in the future, including stumping.

Property owners do not need a permit to remove dead or hazardous trees on their private property where the tree is an immediate threat to public health and safety or will not survive the damage sustained. Photos should be taken before removal to provide evidence of the condition of the tree should there be future inquiries.

City crews are working to remove tree branches and yard waste, but it will take several weeks before the cleanup is finished. If possible, residents should bring tree cuttings, branches and brush to the curb for collection, ensuring it does not impede the roadway or pedestrian access. Please separate brush-like tree cuttings or branches from non-organic storm-related waste like damaged lawn furniture or broken fencing.

The City’s landfill at the Trail Waste Facility (4475 Trail Road) is also offering extended hours to accommodate special collections and will waive tipping fees for residents with storm-related materials to support residents with their disposal needs.

• Monday to Friday - 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Saturday, May 28th - 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Sunday, May 29th - 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Stay safe

If you've lost power, follow these steps to stay safe:

• Please reserve the use of 911 to situations where there is risk to public safety and life-threatening emergencies. If there is a downed power line with no injuries and no risk to public safety, please report it via the police non-emergency number at 613-236-1222 or by calling Hydro Ottawa at 613-738-0188.
• Listen to a battery powered radio to follow the news.
• Stay away from loose or dangling wires.
• If there is debris on your property, please refrain from putting it on the sidewalk.
• If you have a damaged fence or wall around an outdoor pool or hot tub, it is important to ensure the pool or hot tub is not presenting a drowning hazard. Please take reasonable steps to secure the area. You can find more information under the City's construction fencing by-law.
• Turn off all lights, unplug appliances and electronics, and turn down heating system thermostats. This will help avoid a power surge when electricity is restored.
• If your house has a sump pump that does not have a backup power supply, clear valuable from the basement in case flooding occurs.
• If the doors are kept closed, food in freezers will keep for 24 to 48 hours without power, and food in refrigerators will keep for up to four hours. For more information about storing food and water during an emergency, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency(link is external) website.
• If you use a fireplace for heat, check chimneys for creosote build-up or debris. Do not leave the fire unattended.
• Close room doors to keep heat or cool air in a confined area.
• Use flashlights instead of candles. If you must use candles, place them in a non-combustible container away from drapes and carpet and never leave them unattended.
• Only use camp stove, and charcoal or gas barbeques outdoors.
• Only use generators outdoors. Exhaust fumes could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if they are not properly vented. To prevent exhaust gases from entering the house, operate generators in well-ventilated conditions away from windows and doors, and be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
• Plug your appliances directly into the generator using properly rated Canadian Standards Association approved cords.
• Avoid elevator use.

For additional power outage information, visit Hydro Ottawa’s Outage Safety webpage.

Wellness Visits

More wellness visits were conducted today to support vulnerable residents still without power, as well as vulnerable communities requiring ongoing support as they transition back to normal.

Throughout the last week, wellness visits have comprised multiple teams ranging in size and with various types of expertise, including approximately 25 Ottawa Public Health nurses teams, upwards of 40 teams from the Ottawa Fire Service (along with 15–18-year-old Fire Venturers Program volunteer participants), and approximately four Canadian Red Cross teams. This level of support has allowed thousands of wellness visits to be completed in numerous communities over the past week. 

Volunteer Operations

So far, ‘Clean Up the Capital: After the Storm’ has had good uptake, with 62 projects registered thus far, accounting for 216 individuals. In total, 139 kits were distributed this weekend.

Our non-government organization partner, Samaritan’s Purse, will provide assistance to those that require help with debris clean-up on private property. This includes help with damaged trees on private property, emptying of fridges/freezers, etc. For support from Samaritan’s Purse, please contact 1-844-547-2663.