What to do if you receive an emergency notification

Air pollution can have serious health impacts on children, seniors and people with heart or breathing problems like lung or heart disease. Be air aware and plan ahead by checking the Air Quality Health Index (AQHI) or by visiting Air Quality Ontario. You can also sign up for air alerts or download the Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) WeatherCan app on your phone.

If you have heart or lung conditions, talk to your physician about additional ways to protect your health. For more on outdoor air quality visit york.ca/health

If there is a significant air quality event (wildfire, industrial fire etc. ) you may be directed to evacuate or shelter in place. For more information on sheltering in place and sealing your space, please refer to the Hazardous Materials Incidents section.

During extreme heat:

• Check local weather conditions and warnings

• Check regularly on family, friends or neighbours during hot and humid conditions; consider using this tool to assess for heat related illness

• Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of cool liquids, especially water, before feeling thirsty

• Avoid drinks containing alcohol or caffeine

• Do not leave people or pets unattended in a car

Staying Cool Outdoors

• Schedule outdoor physical activities in the morning and evening hours when it is cooler
• Reduce activity and rest often in shaded areas
• Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing made of breathable fabric
• Reduce sun exposure by wearing a wide-brimmed, breathable hat or use an umbrella
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection and sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher 

Staying Cool Indoors

• Stay in cool, well-ventilated areas
• Close blinds and curtains to reduce the heat coming into your home
• Fans are only effective when circulating cooler air; open a window or door if using a fan to bring in cooler air
• If your home is not air conditioned, consider spending the warmest part of the day in air-conditioned buildings such as libraries, shopping malls and other community facilities; visit your local municipality's website for more information on where you can stay cool in your area
• Take cool showers or baths, or wet your hands, face and the back of your neck
• Prepare meals that don’t need to be cooked in the oven

Learn more at york.ca/ExtremeHeat

If a flood warning has been issued for your area, follow the advice and instructions from emergency response authorities. Monitor your local weather conditions and be prepared to evacuate at a moment's notice. Ignoring the warning could jeopardize the safety of your family or those who may have to rescue you.

Take these precautions to ensure your family and property are protected:

• Have emergency food, drinking water and medical supplies on-hand 
• Move furniture, electronics, appliances, equipment and/or other items off the floor where possible 
• Remove or seal hazardous products like cleaning chemicals 
• Remove toilet bowl water and plug basement sewer drains and toilet connections 
• Be prepared to evacuate your home or vehicle as requested by authorities
• Have sandbags ready to use (available from hardware stores) and know how to stack them

If you receive a thunderstorm alert stating power outages are expected, prepare by:

• Listening to your local news on the radio for updates and instructions from officials
• Visiting the power outage maps of your hydro provider in York Region; these include Alectra, Hydro One and Newmarket Tay Power (NT Power)
• Locating your 72-hour emergency kit
• Putting flashlights with batteries in major rooms
• Fully charging your phone and phone charger while you have power
• Putting your power company’s phone number, website or social media information on your cell phone
• Disconnecting all surge-prone electronics such as laptops, TVs, and microwaves
• Shutting your freezer and fridge doors completely
• Filling a cooler with ice or freezer blocks for cold food storage, if needed
• Opening your electric garage door if you think you will need to access your car or garage during the power outage (and knowing how to shut it manually)
• Filling your vehicle with no less than a half-tank of gas because gas stations are electrically operated and won’t work during a power outage
• If you depend on home oxygen (or other life-sustaining equipment), locate your back-up that does not rely on power (such as battery back-up)

How to save your mobile phone battery

• Charge it while you have power
• Turn on power savings mode
• Use social media for updates
• Record an “I’m OK” message on voicemail
• Limit voice calls – text message is best

Thunderstorms and lightning

Lightning can strike anywhere within the same area that thunder sound travels. If you can hear thunder, you can be struck by lightning and should seek shelter immediately. There is no safe place outdoors during a thunderstorm. If thunder roars, go indoors!

Use this lightning danger map to track areas at greatest risk of being struck by lightning in the next 10 minutes.

Pay attention to local weather stations for weather watches and warnings. You can also find up-to-date information on severe storm conditions, storm maps, weather warnings and public weather alerts at Environment Canada.

If outside:

• Stay away from trees, telephone poles, wires, fences or anything metal
• Seek a low-lying area and don’t stand near anything made of metal

If indoors:

• Stay away from appliances or equipment — anything that will conduct electricity including sinks, tubs and showers 
• Avoid using a telephone that is connected to a landline

If driving or boating:

• Do not park under tall objects that could topple 
• Do not stop or exit vehicle if there are power lines down nearby
• If in a boat, get to shore and find shelter 

What to do when there is a tornado watch or warning

A tornado WATCH – “Have a plan”:

• Stay tuned to your local weather station for updated information
• Be careful and be ready to put your family emergency plan into action quickly if a tornado warning is announced
• If you are not at home, determine the safest place to shelter if a tornado occurs

A tornado WARNING – “Take action”:

If outside:

• Take shelter immediately (never wait until you see a tornado) 
• Don’t go under an overpass or bridge; you’re safer in an open flat area 
• If you cannot find shelter, lie flat in a ditch and cover your head with your hands 
• Get as close to the ground as possible and watch for flying debris (small objects become dangerous projectiles when carried by tornado winds) 
• If you are driving and see a tornado, get to a nearby shelter or travel away from the tornado 
• Do not use your car as a shelter; debris may come through the windows or the vehicle may be lifted away

If indoors:

• Stay tuned to your local weather station for updated information 
• Go to your basement, cold cellar or take shelter in a small interior windowless ground floor room (such as a bathroom, closet or hallway)
• Put as many walls as possible between you and the outside
• Shelter under a sturdy piece of furniture
• Use your arms to protect your head and neck 

If at the office or apartment building:

• Take shelter in an inner hallway or room (ideally in the basement) or ground floor
• Do not use the elevator and stay away from windows
• Avoid large rooms that are not supported in the middle such as gymnasiums, churches and auditoriums 

Tornado Safety Tips

Home

• Go to the basement or smallest centre room
• Stay away from all windows
• Cover yourself

Highrise

• Go to the lowest floor possible or seek shelter in an interior hallway or stairwell
• Do not use the elevator

Pay attention to local weather stations for updated information and Environment Canada for specifics on severe storm conditions, storm maps, weather warnings and public weather alerts. Be aware of other hazards that may follow a severe winter weather event such as power outages or surface flooding.

During the storm, avoid going outside or unnecessary travel. If you must go outside, protect yourself from the elements with proper clothing and watch for signs of hypothermia and frostbite. If you must travel somewhere, find out the road conditions before driving or venturing outdoors, and drive safely. 

If outdoors - on a farm:

• Bring livestock indoors and make sure they have plenty of water and food
• If you must go to the outbuildings, dress for the weather