Being prepared

Wolseley

It was just before 7 p.m. on a Wednesday evening in late September. We were eating dinner and watching the news, when suddenly everything got quiet. No television, no oscillating air circulation from our new deluxe fan, no sounds whatsoever. Even the cats awoke temporarily from their prolonged naps to peek from under the warmth of their favourite blankets to see what all the strange silence was about.

I checked in with our trusted good neighbour text group to ask if we were the only ones without power. Turns out we were in good company. Everyone on our block was without power.

I went into a panic as I realized I’d failed to charge my devices. I quickly checked out Facebook where a few others had already reported in our community group pages about the large area power outage. Manitoba Hydro was already on the scene.

Within a few minutes, updates came in, saying estimated resolution time would be 10:30 p.m.

“That’s over three hours from now,” I gasped. With darkness upon us so much earlier now, we started looking for flashlights and anything battery powered. I worried about seniors and other vulnerable people living alone.

As the sun set and the house grew dark, we decided to enjoy some fresh air, so we sat outside taking in the peace and quiet of the neighbourhood. It was beautiful, but I was unsettled, as there’s still that childlike part of me that remains afraid of the dark. The glow of our little solar garden lights seemed particularly bright, and definitely welcome.

Suddenly, all the familiar sounds returned, as did the light and the usual activity of the area. It took just over an hour— not the three hours we expected. Relieved and grateful, we returned inside to reboot and restart everything we’d planned earlier in the evening.

I learned a few things that night:

Keep your phones and other devices charged.

If you don’t already have one, acquire a portable charger.

Have a list of trusted neighbours to contact easily. I’m incredibly thankful for having several of our neighbours on a group text so they can be contacted all at the same time. Whether there’s a security concern, a lost pet, or an invitation to gather, it’s a wonderful thing to have. They’ve been a great source of assistance and peace of mind since we moved to this neighbourhood.

If you’re on social media, join your neighbourhood community groups so you can easily stay informed about issues affecting your area.

Always keep flashlights on hand, and/or other battery-operated light sources around.

We hear about the importance of emergency preparedness kits, but how many of us really have them? Essential items should be easy to access in the dark. Keep a bag, box or basket with a first aid kit, bottled water, dried food, blankets, candles and matches, paper and pens, and extra flashlight batteries.

To Manitoba Hydro — we are grateful to you for being out there fixing things, and getting us out of the darkness. It can’t be easy working in all kinds of dangerous or unexpected conditions at all hours of the day and night, and there’s got to be a lot of pressure; so on behalf of all of us who genuinely appreciate the excellent customer service, especially during emergencies, huge heartfelt thank you.

The Hydro website is loaded with good information about how to be prepared in case of a power outage, which can last a few short minutes, an hour or several or even a full day during a winter storm. They’ve also got a detailed handbook which includes information on how to deal with everything from a downed power line to a gas or carbon monoxide leak. Visit www.hydro.mb.ca/outages/be-prepared/ for more information

Being prepared for the unexpected can make all the difference in the world.