Central Coast Emergency Management Alerts Warnings and Statements

Central Coast Emergency Management Alerts, Warnings and Statements

Power Outage Update

Update: 3:30 PM January 4, 2020

 

We are asking for the community’s help in downtown Bella Coola to please turn off your breakers now. It is possible that the power MAY come back on tonight between 7pm and 10pm. If the power comes back on, please leave your breaker off for 20 minutes while BC Hydro re-energizes the system. There may be more outages but if you leave the breaker off for a while, there is a greater chance the power will come back on.

 

How to turn off your breaker:

  1. Start at the service panel / breaker box which may be in the garage or basement. It may be in a closet or laundry area. The service panel probably is a gray metal box or door, unless it has been painted.

 

Image result for breaker panel

 

  1. After opening the service panel door you will find rows of individual circuit breakers, which look like toggle switches, and a main breaker on top.
  2. Turn off power to the entire house by flipping off the main breaker, usually a double switch located a the top of the service panel.

 

Power is currently restored in Hagensborg but downtown Bella Coola remains without power. As of 6am January 4, an estimated 309 customers are impacted. Fireplaces, woodstoves, barbecues and camp stoves can be used for emergency cooking. The estimated time for power to come back on is Sunday evening but it may come back on sooner with help of the community.

 

Please DO NOT use barbecues or campstoves indoors due to the high risk of carbon monoxide build-up and fire hazard. Please see General Information below for further tips on preparing for power outages.

 

 

 

 

 

DriveBC Update

Update: 6:00 AM January 4, 2020

 

The Emergency Management team is gathering information for Nuxalk Nation community members who are stranded out of town and require assistance. Shelter and food costs are being requested but not guaranteed. Please send your name and location to Marlene King on facebook or by cell at 250-644-5364.

 

Highway 20, in both directions. Avalanche control work between Government Wharf and Labouchere Ave (Bella Coola). Road closed. Detour not available. Estimated time of opening not available. Next update time Sat Jan 4 at 8:00 PM PST. Last updated Sat Jan 4 at 9:03 AM PST

 

Highway 20. High avalanche hazard between Hunlen Falls Turner Lakes Trailhead and Rainbow Range Trailhead for 19.7 km (34 km east of Firvale to 38 km west of Anahim Lake). Road closed. Estimated time of opening not available. Next update time Sat Jan 4 at 8:00 PM PST. Last updated Sat Jan 4 at 2:00 PM PST

 

Highway 20. Slushy sections between N Bentinck FSR and Rainbow Range Trailhead for 97.2 km (Bella Coola to 39 km west of Anahim Lake). Last updated Sat Jan 4 at 3:30 PM PST

 

Highway 20. Compact snow between Hunlen Falls Turner Lakes Trailhead and Sawmill Creek Rd for 136.7 km (39 km west of Anahim Lake to Tatla Lake). Last updated Sat Jan 4 at 3:29 PM PST

 

Highway 20. Watch for slippery sections between Graham Lake Access No 2 Rd and Stum Lake Rd for 109.3 km (Tatla Lake to Alexis Creek). Compact snow. Last updated Sat Jan 4 at 3:29 PM PST

 

Highway 20. Special event planned between Young Rd and Harvey Rd for 3.8 km (9 to 5 km west of Alexis Creek). Starting Sun Jan 5, 2020 at 10:00 AM PST until Sun Jan 5, 2020 at 1:30 PM PST. Cattle Drive. Last updated Mon Dec 30 at 3:23 PM PST

 

Highway 20. Watch for slippery sections between Graham St and Stack Valley Rd for 64.2 km (Alexis Creek to 44 km west of Williams Lake). Last updated Sat Jan 4 at 3:28 PM PST

 

Highway 20. Watch for slippery sections between Bald Mountain Road FSR and Highway 97 for 47.6 km (Williams Lake). Compact snow. Last updated Sat Jan 4 at 3:36 PM PST

 

Alerts for: Central Coast

Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to BCstorm@canada.ca or tweet reports using #BCStorm.

 

Weather warnings are currently not in effect and have been cancelled.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

General Information

Driving Safely in Severe Weather Conditions

Severe weather - thunderstorms, hail, blizzards, ice storms, high winds or heavy rain - can happen without warning and in any season.

With severe weather often comes a loss of power, so be prepared to be on your own by developing an emergency plan, putting together your emergency kit and connecting with your neighbours.

Home Preparedness Checklist for Power Outages

 

  • Have a battery-operated radio.
    • This allows you to listen to your local station for warnings, advice and instructions.
  • ​​Stow flashlights with extra batteries.
  • Inspect your chimney or flue.
    • This helps prevent structural fires and ensures smoke, carbon monoxide and other potentially harmful gases are properly vented.
  • Make sure you have an adequate supply of food and water
    • BCHydro suggests that if the power is out for less than four hours, the food in your fridge and freezer will be safe to consume.
    • If the power is out for longer than four hours, follow BCHydro’s guidelines on making your food supply last as long as possible.
    • Fireplaces, woodstoves, barbecues and camp stoves can be used for emergency cooking. DO NOT use barbecues or campstoves indoors due to the high risk of carbon monoxide build-up.

 

Tips For Driving in Ice or Snow

  • Slow down. Bridges and overpasses freeze first, so take it slow and avoid sudden changes in speed or direction.
  • Keep windows clear. Visibility is crucial, especially in bad weather. Turn on the lights and wipers and crank up the defroster, if necessary. Scrape the ice off of your windows before you leave to ensure proper visibility. Also make sure that all items are removed from the back window area. If you're still having trouble seeing, carefully pull over to a safe location well off the roadway.
  • Brake cautiously. Abrupt braking can cause lock-up and loss of steering control. If you have anti-lock brakes, apply constant, firm pressure to the pedal.
  • Resist the urge to "floor it." If you get stuck in snow, straighten the wheels and accelerate slowly. Avoid spinning the tires. Use sand or blocks under the drive wheels.

Vehicle Preparedness Checklist for Severe Weather

Shift into winter every year with DriveBC's Prepare Your Vehicle checklist and make sure you’re ready for bad weather while on the road. Preparing your vehicle includes packing a winter survival kit. Recommended items include:

 

  • Emergency kit containing non-perishable food, blankets and first aid supplies
  • Windshield scraper and snow brush
  • Extra windshield washer fluid
  • Spare tire, wheel wrench and jack
  • Shovel and traction mat, sand or kitty litter
  • Flashlight and extra batteries
  • Battery jumper cables
  • Extra clothing and footwear
  • Flares and matches or lighter
  • Fuel line antifreeze
  • Tire chains and glove

 

 

Emergency Kit Supplies


Emergency Phone Numbers:

RCMP Bella Coola Detachment: 250-799-5363

BC Ambulance: 1-800-461-9911

BC Hydro Emergency: 1-888-769-3766

Stay Up to Date:

Weather conditions: https://weather.gc.ca/

BC River Forecast Centre: http://bcrfc.env.gov.bc.ca/warnings/index.htm

Road Conditions: https://www.drivebc.ca/mobile/events/index.html

Call toll-free 1-800-550-4997 for BC road information 24 hours-a-day

 

Make your food last as long as possible in an outage

Keep the doors shut on your refrigerator and freezer

The best thing you can do? Keep the door shut. Each time you open the door to grab an item (or just to check how warm things are getting), huge amounts of valuable cold air will escape. The aim is to maintain the cold temperature that you had when the power went out, for as long as possible.

A fridge or freezer that's unplugged isn't immediately warm; the door helps seal cold temperatures inside. By keeping the door shut, you can dramatically slow down the warming and keep food at a safe cool temperature for much longer.

A freezer that is fully packed will hold food safely for 48 hours. A freezer that's half full will hold food safely for up to 24 hours – assuming that you leave the door shut. Your fridge should keep food cold for about four hours with the door shut.

Store containers of water (such as plastic food storage containers or old milk jugs) in your freezer to fill up extra space and maintain cool temperatures when the power is out. It's also a great way to store drinking water for emergencies.

Watch for four hours of 4 C or more

Most refrigerators are set to between 2 C and 3 C. Keeping the door shut will help you maintain the temperatures needed for food safety, but in an extended outage, you'll need to pay attention to which items are still safe to consume, and which need to be discarded.

For any outage that's four hours or less, food in the fridge or freezer should be safe to consume.

Health Canada says that any food that has ice crystals or feels refrigerator-cold can be refrozen once you have power back.

If food has been held above 4 C for more than four hours, there are some items that should be discarded. A fridge thermometer is inexpensive, and will help you know when to start removing items in a longer outage. But resist checking on items too early. If you can keep the fridge closed for at least four hours, you'll keep items fresher longer.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Food Safety offers some general guidelines on which foods are safe to keep, and which should be discarded.

FOOD

HELD ABOVE 4 C FOR OVER 4 HOURS

Raw or leftover cooked meat, poultry, fish, or seafood; soy meat substitutes

Discard

Lunchmeats, hot dogs, bacon, sausage, dried beef

Discard

Soft cheeses (blue/bleu, Roquefort, Brie, cottage, cream, Edam, Monterey Jack, ricotta, mozzarella etc.), low-fat cheeses, shredded cheeses

Discard

Hard cheeses (Cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano etc.), processed cheeses, grated cheese in a can or jar

Safe

Dairy products (milk, cream, sour cream, buttermilk, evaporated milk, yogurt, eggnog, soy milk etc.)

Discard

Butter, margarine

Safe

Baby formula, opened

Discard

Fresh eggs, hard-cooked in shell, egg dishes, egg products

Discard

Fresh fruits (cut/sliced), cooked vegetables, tofu, pre-washed greens

Discard

Fruit juices, raw vegetables, canned fruit, fresh fruits

Safe

Opened mayonnaise, tartar sauce, horseradish

Discard if above 10 C for over 8 hours

Peanut butter, jelly, vinegar-based dressings relish, taco sauce, mustard, ketchup, olives, pickles

Safe

Worcestershire, soy, barbecue, Hoisin sauces

Safe

Fish sauces (oyster sauce), creamy-based dressings

Discard

Cooked pasta, fresh pasta, rice, potatoes

Discard

For longer outages during the winter, coolers and ice can help you keep food at a safe temperature. But health authorities caution against putting food outside where it could be contaminated by dirt or animals. Instead, use milk jugs, plastic food containers and bottles to make ice outside, then transfer the ice to coolers to keep your food cold. Frozen gel packs are a great option and take up less space in the cooler.

Use your best judgement when it comes to deciding what to discard. Food can be contaminated and not look or smell spoiled, so if you’re in doubt, throw it out.

But keep those doors shut, and you’ll be off to a good start.