May 24 Update Following Saturday’s Severe Weather Event

Hello Kanata North,I have heard from many residents today who remain without power despite the Hydro Ottawa map indicating that power has been restored. I share your frustration. I am still left without power as well, with no confirmed restoration date/time yet.Due to the number of individual and complex overlapping outages throughout the City of Ottawa, the Hydro Ottawa outage map does not reflect the current situation and full extent of the progress made by the team. It has been temporarily removed. At this time, Hydro Ottawa reports 74,000 customers without power across the city.If you are left without power, please email my team at k.n@ottawa.ca and send us your address, and we’ll flag it with our Hydro Ottawa Councillor liaison.The repairs required as a result of Saturday’s storm are complex with extensive damage to infrastructure across the city. As Hydro Ottawa and Hydro One crews continue to work around the clock, they are unfortunately not yet able to accurately provide estimated restoration times.Emergency Reception CentresA reminder that reception centres have been set up throughout Ottawa for residents to access power and amenities like washrooms & showers. They are open today until 10 pm. Find locations and other important info, such as safety tips after the storm, here.

The following facilities offer power for charging devices, showers, washrooms, food and Red Cross:

The following facilities offer power for charging devices, showers, and washrooms:

The following facility offers power for charging devices and washrooms:

Additionally, the Ottawa Public Library has opened six branches today, including Beaverbrook, which are open until 8pm today: Beaverbrook, Cumberland, Greenboro, Main, Nepean Centrepointe, and Ruth E. Dickinson. Tomorrow, all OPL branches will reopen except those still without electricity (Centennial, Emerald Plaza, Hazeldean, Munster, and Rosemount). Please visit BiblioOttawaLibrary.ca for updates.  If you have lost access to your well water, bottled water is available at the following locations along with access to fill containers with potable water:

  • W. Erskine Johnston Arena, at 3832 Carp Road
  • Howard Darwin Centennial Arena, at 1765 Merivale Road
  • Navan Memorial Centre, at 1295 Colonial Road
  • Greely Community Centre, at 1448 Meadow Drive
  • Richmond Arena, at 6095 Perth Street

To support residents on home oxygen therapy and who are not able to be serviced in time by their current provider, supplier will support residents with Medical Oxygen needs and device recharging at the following reception centres:

  • Howard Darwin Centennial Arena, at 1765 Merivale Road
  • François Dupuis Recreation Centre, at 2263 Portobello Boulevard

Please bring equipment (oxygen concentrator or portable oxygen concentrator) and a copy of your prescription to ensure you know your oxygen delivery litre flow.Do you know someone who is vulnerable and in need of assistance after yesterday’s severe storm? Check on them and, if needed, please bring them to an emergency reception centre.Spoiled FoodIf you have spoiled food, please make use of your regular garbage day pick up. Put spoiled food in a bag beside your green bin if the bin is full. In case you have Thu, Fri or Sat pick ups and significant amounts of spoiled food, call our office and we’ll direct you: 613-580-2474.Alternatively, the City has also set up organic waste dumpsters, with more being added over the coming days:

  • Navan Memorial Centre at 1295 Colonial Road
  • CARDELREC Recreation Complex Goulbourn at 1500 Shea Road
  • Hunt Club-Riverside Park Community Centre at 3320 Paul Anka Drive
  • Howard Darwin Centennial Arena at 1765 Merivale Road
  • Minto Recreation Complex- Barrhaven, 3500 Cambrian Rd.
  • Walter Baker Sports Centre, 100 Malvern Drive
  • Osgoode Community Centre, 5662 Osgoode Main Street
  • Orléans Library, 1705 Orléans Boulevard

Debris Clean UpAll brush/ tree branches will be picked up. Please drag them to the curb and try to put it in a fairly neat and orderly pile. It may take weeks to pick it all up, but it will be picked up.Food AssistanceIf you were affected by the power outage and are in need of financial help, you may complete an application for emergency assistance for loss of food and in exceptional circumstances for help with medication, medical supplies or personal care. For details, please visit the Kanata North website.The damage from Saturday’s storm is widespread. Across Ottawa, many were forced to throw food away due to the loss of electricity. Please help fill the fridges for those in need by supporting the Kanata Food Cupboard.

School UpdateUpdate from the Ottawa-Carleton District School Board:

  • OCDSB schools with power will be open on May 25, 2022. However, there will be no school bus transportation and OC Transpo service is also limited. If your child is attending school, please ensure you have arrangements for safe drop-off and pick-up.  Note that travel time may take longer in some areas.  Please note, some class cancellations may occur due to staff shortages. Schools will notify parents directly.
  • Schools without power remain closed on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. The following schools do not have full power restored and will be closed:
    • Agincourt
    • Alta Vista
    • Arch Street
    • Bell HS
    • Bells Corners
    • Briargreen
    • Blossom Park
    • Brookfield
    • Castor Valley
    • Carleton Heights
    • Charles H. Hulse
    • Confederation
    • Crystal Bay
    • D.Roy Kennedy
    • Dunlop
    • Elizabeth WynWood
    • Featherston
    • Fielding
    • Glen Cairn
    • Hillcrest
    • Manordale
    • Manotick
    • Meadowlands
    • Merivale HS
    • OCV
    • Pinecrest
    • Pleasant Park
    • Queen Mary
    • Regina
    • River VIew AS
    • Richmond PS
    • Ridgemont
    • Rockcliffe Park
    • Sawmill Creek
    • Severn
    • Sir Winston Churchill
    • South Carleton
    • South March
    • Stittsville PS

Update from the Ottawa Catholic School Board:

  • All OCSB schools with power will be open to students and staff tomorrow – Wednesday, May 25, 2022. We will try to offer our students as typical a school day as possible.
  • School Lunches: If your child’s school is open, but your power just came back on or is not on, we understand you may not have had time to get groceries. If this is the case, please let the school know. We will try and arrange lunches for students in this situation.
  • Schools Without Power: All OCSB schools without power will be closed for the day, and there will be no remote learning. Should the power outages at schools continue, we will make arrangements for device distribution and options for remote learning in areas where Internet and power are available.
  • These 20 OCSB schools and the Catholic Education Centre remain without power and will be closed Wednesday:
    • Dr. F.J. McDonald
    • Frank Ryan
    • Our Lady of Peace
    • Sacred Heart
    • St. Andrew
    • St. Bernard
    • St. Daniel
    • St. Gabriel
    • St. Gemma
    • St. Gregory
    • St. Isidore
    • St. Leonard
    • St. Luke Nepean
    • St. Michael – Corkery
    • St. Michael – Ottawa
    • St. Monica
    • St. Mother Teresa
    • St. Paul
    • St. Philip
    • St. Rita
  • The Ottawa Student Transportation has cancelled all bus service to all Ottawa schools Wednesday, the board says.

Update from the Insurance Bureau of CanadaInsurance Bureau of Canada (IBC) is the national industry association representing Canada’s private home, auto and business insurers. Its member companies make up the vast majority of the property and casualty (P&C) insurance market in Canada.If you require assistance/have questions about insurance, you can contact your insurance representative or IBC’s Consumer Information Centre at 1-844-2ask-IBC or via email ConsumerCentre@ibc.ca.3-1-1The City’s 3-1-1 call centre is experiencing very high call volume. Ottawa residents are asked to remain patient as workers respond to calls on a priority basis. Please only call 3-1-1 for urgent issues that are a threat to public safety.The Hydro Ottawa crews are working diligently to ensure public safety and restore power as soon as possible. Power will be restored initially to large scale outages, followed by smaller ones, keeping safety as the number one priority. If you see a downed power line, stay at least 10 meters (the length of a school bus) away from the wires and from any objects that are in contact with the lines.If you’ve lost power, follow these steps to stay safe:

  • Please reserve the use of 911 to situations where there is risk to public safety and life-threatening emergencies. If there is a downed power line with no injuries and no risk to public safety, please report it via the police non-emergency number at 613-236-1222 or by calling Hydro Ottawa at 613-738-0188.
  • Listen to a battery powered radio to follow the news.
  • Stay away from loose or dangling wires.
  • If there is debris on your property, please refrain from putting it on the sidewalk.
  • Turn off all lights, unplug appliances and electronics, and turn down heating system thermostats. This will help avoid a power surge when electricity is restored.
  • If your house has a sump pump that does not have a backup power supply, clear valuable from the basement in case flooding occurs.
  • If the doors are kept closed, food in freezers will keep for 24 to 48 hours without power, and food in refrigerators will keep for up to four hours. For more information about storing food and water during an emergency, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website.
  • If you use a fireplace for heat, check chimneys for creosote build-up or debris. Do not leave the fire unattended.
  • Close room doors to keep heat or cool air in a confined area.
  • Use flashlights instead of candles. If you must use candles, place them in a non-combustible container away from drapes and carpet and never leave them unattended.
  • Only use camp stove, and charcoal or gas barbeques outdoors.
  • Only use generators outdoors. Exhaust fumes could lead to carbon monoxide poisoning if they are not properly vented. To prevent exhaust gases from entering the house, operate generators in well-ventilated conditions away from windows and doors, and be sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Plug your appliances directly into the generator using properly rated Canadian Standards Association approved cords.
  • Avoid elevator use.

Please visit the City of Ottawa website for further updates and available resources.

An important reminder from Hydro Ottawa

Please reach out at cathy.curry@ottawa.ca if you need anything. My team and I will do our best to assist you.Sincerely,Councillor Cathy Curry