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Stock Your Garage with Emergency Supplies

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winter bbq outdoors backyard snow storm electrical outageWhether this winter is mild or as snowy and cold as our past two winters, we’re bound to get walloped by a few snow storms. Ontarians are no strangers to cold, blustery winters. While these conditions are routine, they aren’t innocuous. Winter storms have the potential to be deadly. Last time we discussed how to prepare your vehicle and garage for the winter. Now let’s review the supplies every garage should have stocked in case of a severe weather event.

Stocking your garage with emergency supplies may seem overly cautious. However, Canadians fall victim to weather events, directly or indirectly, every year. Advanced preparation will increase your odds of staying safe during treacherous winter weather events.

Power and communication lines are susceptible to outage during ice storms or heavy snowfall. In most instances, power is restored within a few hours. In more serious cases, you may be forced to go without power or communication for days. If the temperature dips dangerously low, how will you stay warm for several days? Would you have enough food and clean water on hand until services are restored? By taking action now, you’ll be ready to weather the storm.

Three things to do right now that may save your life later

The key to surviving severe weather events is preparation. So be ready to act when dangerous weather is headed your way.

  • Sign up to have weather alerts sent to your mobile phone. Be among the first to learn of impending bad weather so you can take action quickly.
  • Create an emergency preparedness action plan. When an emergency strikes, it’s natural to panic. Develop an emergency action plan while you are calm and clearheaded. Review the plan with your entire family. Everyone should know what to do if a weather-related disaster strikes.
  • Build an emergency survival kit. Gather the items you’ll need if a disaster strikes. Store them in your garage or somewhere accessible to everyone in your home.

Items to include in your emergency kit

What should you include in your emergency kit? Here are several items that merit a spot:

  • Enough non-perishable food to last your family three days
  • A manual can opener
  • At least 12 litres of water per family member
  • First aid kit
  • Flashlights and extra batteries
  • Candles and matches
  • Battery-powered or crank radio
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Moist towelettes
  • Whistle to attract help
  • Ziploc plastic bags
  • Garbage bags

The items above can be packed in a backpack, duffle bag or portable container, in case you need to evacuate your home. The emergency kit can be stored on a garage shelf or platform or in a garage cabinet. When organizing or renovating your garage, include a space to store disaster supplies.

These following items won’t fit in your kit, but should also be stashed away safely in your garage in case of emergency:

  • Seasoned wood (where applicable), ethanol gel or heating fuel
  • Shovel or snow removal equipment
  • Rock salt (or an environmentally-friendly option) and sand
  • Pliers or a wrench to turn off utilities

Be sure to also grab these items if a weather event hits:

  • Warm clothing and blankets
  • Medications for people and pets
  • Contacts/eye glasses / hearing aids
  • Personal hygiene items
  • Baby supplies
  • Pet supplies
  • Important documents (passport, insurance policies, birth certificates, etc.)
  • Cell phones and chargers
  • Cash
  • Contact list

Hopefully, you’ll never need to use your emergency supplies. To ensure all of the items are good when an emergency does occur, check the kit periodically. Rotate food, water and batteries, as needed, so they are fresh and ready to go when you need them.

Always heed warnings broadcast on television and radio by the Alert Ready Emergency Alert System. Such warnings are issued by emergency management officials and Environment Canada to help you take immediate action to protect your family when severe weather strikes.

In the event that ice or snow knocks out heating, it may be tempting to burn fuel inside of your home or garage. Don’t! It’s extremely dangerous and can lead to carbon monoxide poisoning and death. It’s fine to store your grill or propane tank in the garage, but move them outdoors when you’re ready to cook.

Regardless of what this winter has in store, be prepared if you encounter severe weather. Sign up for text message weather alerts. Create an emergency preparedness plan and review it with every member of the family. Prepare an emergency survival kit and store it in your garage or someplace accessible to everyone. For more resources on building your survival kit, see the Ontario Ministry of Safety and Correctional Services.

 

 

Prevent Ice on Sidewalks, Driveways and Around Your Garage Door

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Last time we talked about ice dams and how to prevent them. But your roof isn’t the only place snow and ice can wreak havoc. These elements can also pose a hazard on sidewalks, driveways and around your garage door.

Remove Snow and Ice from Sidewalks and Driveways

a-snowy-winter-scene-of-a-man-shoveling-snow-during-snowfallAccording to Toronto Municipal Code 719-2, property owners have twelve hours after the fall of snow, rain or hail to “clear away and completely remove snow and ice from any sidewalk on a highway in front of, alongside or at the rear of the building.” If removing the snow and ice leaves the sidewalk slippery, the owner or occupant is charged with applying ashes, sand, salt or another appropriate material to the surface to “completely cover the slippery surface.” Property owners who fail to comply with this edict are subject to fines and open to slip-and-fall lawsuits. So how can you protect yourself and others?

The best way to prevent snow and ice buildup is to shovel during the snowfall, whenever possible. While it’s true this may require shoveling a second time, your arms and back will thank you for the lighter load. A push broom can be used to remove light dustings of snow. If ice has already formed on the sidewalk, use a garden edger or metal pick to break through ice. Clear the snow down to the pavement. Then apply your ice-melt product of choice to provide traction.

Rock salt, though cost-effective, corrodes automobiles, damages concrete, contaminates waterways and is harmful to trees and plants. Ammonium nitrate and ammonium sulfate break down masonry materials.Ice melt products, like those containing calcium chloride require less product to get the job done. However, these products eventually make their way to waterways.

Sand is inexpensive and easily accessible. Brick sand, which is coarser, is the best option. However, it can easily be tracked into the house. Provide an area for boot and shoe removal just before or after the entryway to your home to avoid this. Ashes from a wood burning fireplace are another convenient option. Do not use ashes near gardens, as heavy metals may be present. Kitty litter, while more expensive, is an option which provides excellent traction.

Looking for the best environmental choice? EcoTraction, a green-colored, all-natural volcanic mineral that doesn’t contain salt, chlorides, chemicals or dyes, is an environmentally-friendly choice. The product is touted as completely safe for use around children, pets, plants and wildlife.

If you’re building a new home or replacing your driveway, in-ground heat mats prevent snow and ice from building on the driveway without shoveling, snow blowing, scraping or the use of ice-melting chemicals.

Prevent Ice and Snow Build Up Around Your Garage Door

The last thing you want to discover on your way out to work, or after a long day at the office, is a garage door that’s frozen shut. However, if water gets underneath the garage door seal and then freezes, this is quite likely to occur. To minimize the chances of your garage door freezing shut:

  • Keep the area around your garage door free from ice and snow to prevent the bottom seal from sticking to the ground.
  • Apply silicone spray to the rubber seal to prevent it from sticking. Cooking spray and vegetable oil will also work.
  • Open the garage door periodically during bad weather, to keep it from sticking.

What if your garage door is already frozen shut?

  • Don’t keep trying to lift the garage door with the automatic opener, as this could burn the motor out or strip the gears.
  • Pull the release cord, which allows you to manually open the garage door.
  • Don’t try to force the door open, as this could rip the bottom seal from the door.
  • From outside the garage, try breaking up the ice by using an ice scraper between the bottom of the door and the concrete.
  • Use a hair dryer or heat gun set on low to melt ice. Don’t concentrate on one spot for too long.

Managing snow and ice during winter weather can be tedious, hard work. However, the cost—in possible fines, injuries and property damage—make preventing the buildup of snow and ice on sidewalks, driveways and around your garage door worthwhile.

 

 

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Garage Tailors INC.
51-3176 Ridgeway Drive
Mississauga, Ontario
L5L 5S6

416.617.7551
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