Winter Is On Its Way – Stay Safe and Prepared 

Winter is expected to make its arrival this weekend, bringing heavy snowfall and the potential for whiteout conditions that could last from a few hours to a couple of days.

The City of Owen Sound is reminding residents to be prepared with resources and plans in place.

Winter Emergency Preparedness

• Fill and keep an emergency kit in your home and vehicles.
• Create your own Emergency Preparedness Action Plan.
• Subscribe to a weather app or feed on your smartphone for instant weather alerts.
• Be prepared for a potential Hydro outage. If you experience an outage, you can report it online by texting ‘outage’ to 92887 (WATTS) or calling 1-800-434-1235. For tips on how to stay prepared, visit Hydro One’s website at Power Outages and Safety - Hydro One.

Stay Informed

• Listen to the radio or visit Environment Canada or the Weather Network website for current and long-term weather conditions.
• Subscribe to the City’s news release updates or social media to learn when a ‘significant weather event’ has been declared.

Take Personal Safety Measures

• Dress accordingly when you are outside and check regularly for frostbite.
• Remind children not to play on or near snowbanks. Drivers cannot always see children playing near roadways, and slippery or snow-covered roads make stopping harder.

Travel and Driving Safety

• If you don’t need to go out, stay home! Avoid unnecessary travel during winter storms to keep safe and allow road crews to do their job.
• Stay safe on the road. Visit the Ontario Winter Driving page for more tips on driving safely in winter storms.
• Visit Ontario 511 or Municipal 511 for local road conditions.
• Do not park on the street until after the snow has been cleared. Remember that parking is prohibited on City streets between 1 a.m. and 7 a.m. from December 1 to March 31.
• Please do not put snow on the road or sidewalk when clearing your driveway, as this creates a hazard for pedestrians and vehicles.

If you need assistance, emergency shelter, or amenities, please call or text 211. 211 is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and there is also an online resource. 211 is a helpline that easily connects people to the social services, programs, and community support they need.

For more information on building an emergency kit or making your own Emergency Preparedness Action Plan, visit Owen Sound’s Emergency Planning website at OwenSound.ca/Emergency.

For more information, please contact Heidi Jennen, Community Emergency Management Coordinator, at 519-376-4440 Ext 3223 or email hjennen@owensound.ca

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