Winter Storms

Lambton County is fortunate in that it does not often experience crippling winter storms. However, severe winter storms can and do occur – sometimes unexpectedly.  Such storms can have serious consequences if there is also a resulting loss of electricity.  Ice storms can cause extensive damage to electrical transmission lines and towers as was demonstrated during the 1998 ice storm which hit eastern Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick. 

Fall-Winter_Flyer_2008.pdf

Between January 5 and 10 1998, freezing rain coated Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick with 7-11 cm (3-4 in) of ice. Trees and hydro wires fell and utility poles and transmission towers came down causing massive power outages, some for as long as a month. It was the most expensive natural disaster in Canada. According to Environment Canada, the ice storm of 1998 directly affected more people than any other previous weather event in Canadian history. Some facts: The water equivalent of freezing rain, ice pellets and a little snow was double previous major ice storms. The area covered was massive, extending from Kitchener, Ontario through Quebec to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and also covering parts of New York and New England. Most freezing rain lasts for a few hours. In the ice storm of 1998, there were more than 80 hours of freezing rain, nearly double the annual average. Casualties and Damage from the Ice Storm of 1998:  28 people died, many from hypothermia, 945 people were injured. Over 4 million people in Ontario, Quebec and New Brunswick lost power. About 600,000 people had to leave their homes. 130 power transmission towers were destroyed and more than 30,000 utility poles fell. Millions of trees fell, and more continued to break and fall for the rest of the winter. Estimated cost of the ice storm was $5,410,184,000. By June 1998, about 600,000 insurance claims totalling more than $1 billion were filed. Summary of Ice Storm of 1998:  Freezing rain started on Monday, January 5, 1998as Canadians were starting back to work after the Christmas holidays. The storm coated everything in glassy ice, making all forms of transportation treacherous. As the storm continued, layers of ice built up, weighing down power lines and poles, and causing massive power outages. At the height of the ice storm, 57 communities in Ontario and 200 in Quebec declared a disaster. More than 3 million people were without power in Quebec and 1.5 million in Eastern Ontario. About 100,000 people went into shelters. By Thursday, January 8, the military was brought in to help clear debris, provide medical assistance, evacuate residents, and canvass door-to-door to make sure people were safe. They also worked to restore power. Power was restored in most urban areas in a matter of days, but many rural communities suffered for much longer. Three weeks after the beginning of the storm, there were still 700,000 people without power. Farmers were especially hard hit. Nearly a quarter of Canada's dairy cows, a third of the crop land in Quebec and a quarter in Ontario were in the affected areas. Milk processing plants were shut, and about 10 million litres of milk had to be dumped. Much of the sugar bush used by Quebec maple syrup producers was permanently destroyed. It was estimated that it would take 30 to 40 years before syrup production could return to normal. Source: Canada Online – Natural Disasters in Canada

Blizzards come in on a wave of cold Arctic air, bringing snow, bitter cold, high winds and poor visibility in blowing snow.   While these conditions must last for at least six hours to be designated a blizzard, they may last for several days.  The snowfall may not be heavy, but the poor visibility, low temperatures and high winds constitute a significant hazard.  Freezing rain occurs when the air in an upper air layer has an above-freezing temperature, while the temperature at the surface is below freezing. The snow that falls melts in the warmer layer; as a result, it is rain – not snow – that lands on the surface. But since the temperature is below 0°C, raindrops freeze on contact and turn into a smooth layer of ice spreading on the ground or any other object like trees or power lines. More slippery than snow, freezing rain is tough and clings to everything it touches.  A little of it is dangerous, a lot can be catastrophic. 

In Canada, blizzards are most common in the Prairies, and the eastern Arctic. Heavy snowfalls are most common in British Columbia, areas around the Great Lakes, southern and eastern Quebec, and the Atlantic provinces. Freezing rain can occur pretty much anywhere in the country, but is particularly common from Ontario to Newfoundland.

On average, the storms and cold of winter kill more than 100 people every year. That is more than the total number of people killed by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, lightning, and extreme heat. 

At Home

If you live in a community located in one of the areas where blizzards or heavy snows are frequent, you may want to consider stocking up on heating fuel and ready-to-eat  food, as well as battery-powered flashlights and radios – and extra batteries.

• When freezing rain, heavy snow, blowing snow or a blizzard is forecast, leave your radio on to stay informed of the situation and hear updated forecasts.

• If a blizzard or heavy blowing snow is forecast and if you are on a farm with livestock, bring the animals into the barn. Make sure they have plenty of water and food. You may also want to string a lifeline between your house and any outbuildings to which you may have to go during the storm.

• When a winter storm hits, stay indoors. If you must go to the outbuildings, dress for the weather. Outer clothing should be tightly woven and water-repellent.  The jacket should have a hood. Wear mittens – they are warmer than gloves – and a hat, as most body heat is lost through the head.

• In wide open areas, visibility can be virtually zero during heavy blowing snow or a blizzard. You may easily lose your way. If a blizzard strikes, do not try to walk to another building unless there is a rope to guide you or something you can follow.

• Ice from freezing rain accumulates on branches, power lines and buildings. If you must go outside when a significant accumulation of ice has already occurred, pay attention to branches or wires that could break, due to the weight of the ice, and fall on you. Ice sheets could also do the same. Above all, do not touch power lines: a hanging power line could be charged (live) and you would run the risk of electrocution.  Remember also that ice, branches or power lines can continue to break and fall for several hours after the end of the precipitation, so be vigilant. Finally, if the power has been off for several hours, check the food in the refrigerator and freezer in case it has spoiled.

In Your Car

As a rule, it is a good idea to keep your gas tank almost full during the winter and to have extra windshield washer fluid and antifreeze on hand. You may want to prepare two small emergency kits – one to put in the trunk of your car and the other in the cab of the car.  The trunk kit should include:

• shovel, sand, or salt, kitty litter or other traction aids;
• tow chain and booster cables;
• fire extinguisher, warning light or flares; and extra clothing, including mittens, hats and boots.

The kit in the cab of the car should include:

• flashlight;
• blanket;
• first-aid kit; and
• matches, candles (in a deep can to warm hands or heat a drink) and emergency food pack.

If you do not already have a cellular telephone and if the cellular network works in your area, you may want to consider having one with you in your car for emergencies. 

Remember that freezing rain, even just a little freezing rain, can make roads extremely slippery. Driving is not recommended when freezing rain is forecast, or for several hours after freezing rain ends, so that road maintenance crews have enough time to spread sand or salt on icy roads.

If you must travel during a winter storm, do so during the day and let someone know your route and arrival time.  If your car gets stuck in a blizzard or snowstorm, remain calm and stay in your car. Allow fresh air into your car by opening the window slightly on the sheltered side – away from the wind. You can run the car engine about 10 minutes every half-hour if the exhaust system is working well. Beware of exhaust fumes and check the exhaust pipe periodically to make sure it is not blocked with snow. (Remember: you can’t smell potentially fatal carbon monoxide fumes.)

Finally, to keep your hands and feet warm, exercise them periodically. In general, it is a good idea to keep moving to avoid falling asleep. If you do try to shovel the snow from around your car, avoid overexerting yourself, as shoveling and bitter cold can kill. Keep watch for traffic or searchers.

Ice Safety

Stay away from riverbanks, rivers and creeks in the spring – don’t challenge cold water! Understand that ice cover is often unpredictable: Ice formed on moving water such as rivers and creeks varies in thickness and strength. In spring, ice is not safe - even thick ice is not necessarily safe. During the spring melt, lines of impurities in the ice melt very quickly, creating weak spots. Ice rarely freezes or thaws at an equal rate. Know The Ice The colour of ice may be an indication of its strength… Clear blue ice is strongest. White opaque (difficult to see through) or snow ice is half as strong as blue ice.  Opaque ice is formed by wet snow freezing on the ice. Grey ice is unsafe. The greyness indicates the presence of water. Ice thickness… • 15 cm minimum for walking or skating alone • 20 cm minimum for skating parties or games • 25 cm minimum for snowmobiles. Remember… ice is always unpredictable and thickness will vary from one location to another. Fast flowing water in streams, creeks and rivers create thin and weak ice. Ice near shore is weaker - the buckling action of the lake or stream over the winter breaks and refreezes ice continually along the shore. Straight, smooth flowing stretches are safer than river bends.  River mouths are dangerous because the current weakens the ice and creates unsafe pockets. A potential danger spot on lakes is an open area of water completely surrounded by ice.  Winds will force exposed water beneath the ice and “rot” it from below. Water level fluctuations can create thin ice. Ice can be ‘hanging’ with no support beneath when water levels drop. A warm spell or thaw can degrade ice VERY quickly; therefore, ice that was safe one day may be dangerous the next. During the spring, under-cut riverbanks thaw and may collapse when someone walks on them. Snow and ice overhangs also form in these areas and may present additional dangers. It is especially dangerous to fall through the ice of a fast flowing river, because the current can sweep you under the ice - even small ditches and culverts have cold fast flowing water in the spring. If you fall through the ice: Try not to panic!  Call for help loudly and clearly. Resist the urge to climb back out where you fell in.  The ice is weak in this area. Use the air trapped in your clothing to get into a floating position on your stomach and face the shore. Slowly reach forward onto the ice - do not push down on it. Kick your legs to slowly push your torso onto the ice. Crawl on your stomach or roll away from the open area with your arms and legs spread out as far as possible to evenly distribute your body weight. DO NOT stand up! Look for shore and make sure you’re going in the right direction. Get medical help immediately! If you can’t climb onto the ice, float in the water and continue calling for help. If someone else falls through the ice: Rescuing a person who has fallen through the ice can be dangerous.  The safest way to perform a rescue is from shore. Instead of attempting to pull a victim out of the water, help them rescue themselves.  ONLY AN ADULT should attempt to physically rescue a victim who has fallen through the ice, because an adult is stronger.  Even a small child can be very heavy when wearing soaked winter clothing. Call 9-1-1 for help. Consider whether you can quickly get help from trained professionals (police, fire fighters or ambulance) or bystanders. See if you can reach the person using a long pole or branch from shore – if so, lie down and extend the pole to the person. If you must go onto ice, wear a PFD and carry a long pole or branch to test the ice in front of you. Bring something to reach or throw to the person (e.g. pole, weighted rope, line or tree branch) - lie down to distribute your weight and slowly crawl toward the hole. Remaining low, extend or throw your emergency rescue device (pole, rope, line or branch) to the person.  Have the person kick while you pull them out. Following the rescue, SEEK MEDICAL HELP!  If the victim shows stiffness, slurred speech or is unconscious, they could be hypothermic - a loss of body core heat which can be fatal. IF IN DOUBT, DON’T GO ON THE ICE!!!

The above safety tips are excerpted from the Quinte Conservation website – Quinte is one of Ontario's 36 conservation authorities and is located in eastern Ontario, encompassing 6,200 square kilometres including the drainage basins of the Moira, Napanee and Salmon Rivers and all of Prince Edward County.  For more information please visit www.quinteconservation.ca.