What's important now is knowing how to protect yourself.
Preparing for severe storms
Stock up on heating fuel and ready-to-eat food, as well as battery-powered or wind-up flashlights and radios – and extra batteries. For a complete
list of emergency supplies, go to emergency kits. Also, learn what to have in your car emergency kit.
When a severe storm is on the horizon, the Meteorological Service of Canada issues watches, warnings and advisories through radio and television
stations, the WeatherOffice Website, automated telephone information lines and Environment Canada's Weatheradio.
Other tips for preparedness
•If a severe storm is forecast, secure everything that might be blown around or torn loose – indoors and outdoors. Flying objects such as garbage
cans and lawn furniture can injure people and damage property.
•If you are on a farm with livestock, bring the animals into the barn. Make sure they have plenty of water and food.
•Trim dead branches and cut down dead trees to reduce the danger of these falling onto your house during a storm.
•If you are indoors, stay away from windows, doors and fireplaces.
•You may want to go to the sheltered area that you and your family chose for your emergency plan.
•If you are advised by officials to evacuate, do so. Take your emergency kit with you.
•You can use a cellular telephone during a severe storm, but it's not safe to use a land-line telephone.
•Never go out in a boat during a storm. If you are on the water and you see bad weather approaching, head for shore immediately. Always check the
marine forecast before leaving for a day of boating and listen to weather reports during your cruise.
•If you are in a car, stop the car away from trees or power lines that might fall on you). Stay there.
•On a farm, generally, the effects of severe storms on livestock are lessened by moving animals to avoid the storm; mitigating the storm's effect
if it cannot be avoided; or sheltering the animals. The approach taken would depend upon the type of disaster anticipated.