Power outages are always possible. There are three possible causes:
- Being an Albertan means that we also have to be prepared for sudden weather changes such as windstorms, heavy snowfall and blizzards. When these happen, FortisAlberta quickly mobilizes its work force to deal with outages and we bring in additional workers as needed until all of the power is restored. Equipment failure, vehicle accidents, and even birds and animals can cause power outages.
- Sometimes, we need to interrupt power so we can do work on the delivery system safely. We try to avoid this and when we can’t, we give customers as much notice as possible.
- Service disruptions can occur when available supplies of electricity are tight, such as when there are unforeseen problems at generating stations or higher demand. These situations are very rare.
What can you do to prepare for a power outage?
- You should be prepared to take care of yourself and your family for a minimum of 72 hours. If a disaster happens in your community, it may take emergency workers some time to get to you as they help those in desperate need.
- The Emergency Public Warning System warns Albertans over radio and television to take action and protect themselves from disasters. This system delivers vital information regarding a threat to the safety of Albertans within a specific region. Take appropriate action and listen for further information.
Emergency Kit for Home:
first aid kit- ready-to-eat foods that won’t spoil for three days
- non-electric can opener
- bottled water, at least four litres per person per day – for three days or 72 hours
- extra prescription medications
- special needs items for infants, elderly and disabled family members
- lantern, flashlight
- battery-operated radio
- batteries
- alternate heat sources: extra warm clothing and blankets
- cooler or ice chest to store ice
- cash and credit cards
(Source: Fortis Alberta)