Food and water safety are crucial during and after severe storms. All hazardous foods (meat, poultry, dairy, fish and eggs) that has been stored above 4 C (40 F) for more than two hours must be thrown out due to the increased risk of the growth of organisms that can cause foodborne illness. It is recommended that you throw out:

• eggs, milk and cheese and other dairy products.
• soups, stews, casseroles.
• any food that may have come in contact with meat juices. 

If your chest freezer is full, foods inside should remain safely frozen for up to 48 hours after a power outage. If your freezer is half full, foods inside should remain safely frozen for 24 hours after a power outage. Any foods that are thawed should be thrown out. For example:

• Throw out thawed vegetables, fish, shellfish, ice cream and frozen foods because bacteria multiply rapidly in these foods.
• Partially thawed foods that still contain ice crystals can be safely refrozen.  However partial thawing and refreezing reduces the quality of most foods.
• Fruits that still look and smell good may be refrozen.

Remember, the fridge and freezer may be cold now because power has been restored—but that doesn’t mean the food is safe! Double-bag foods when packing for the garbage. 

Visit food safety after a power outage for more information.

If you use water from a private well, a power outage will normally cause the water pump to fail. In this situation you should use an alternate source of safe water, such as commercially bottled water or follow the instructions provided here for temporarily treating your water.

If you have a private treatment system for your drinking water, such as ultraviolet light, make sure the treatment system is running properly once the power is restored. Before drinking the water, flush all lines by letting the water run for two minutes. The safety of your water should be confirmed before use. If you have a back-up generator, you may continue to use the water as you did before the power failure.

Most municipal water treatment plants have backup generator systems in place and the water systems are still reliable, however you should listen to local emergency officials in the event that other precautions or water conservation messages are put in place.

 
Follow these methods to keep your water safe during and after prolonged power outages:

• Boil water one minute to make it safe. Boiling water will kill most types of disease-causing organisms that may be present.
• If the water is cloudy, filter it through clean cloths, or allow it to settle and then draw off the clear water for boiling.

Safe drinking water should always be used for:

• Making ice; juice, coffee, tea and infant formula
  Note: Ready-to-serve infant formula is the safest option for formula-fed babies if water safety is a concern.
• For cooking and washing fruits and vegetables.
• Washing hands and brushing teeth.
• Dishwashing – for extra safety, pour a capful of bleach into a sink full of clear water for rinsing dishes.

For more information, visit drinking water safety after a power outage resource.

• When the temperature drops, check in on neighbours, friends and family who may be at risk during extreme cold weather. Make sure they are warm and safe and have the supplies required.
• Frequently check on children who are playing outside and ensure they remain properly dressed.
• Notify friends and family of your location if you are needing to travel to a different location.

• Town of Gravenhurst - Announcements
• District of Muskoka - Emergency Management
• Public Safety Canada – Power outages – Get Prepared
• Public Safety Canada – During a power outage
• Public Safety Canada – After a power outage
• Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit – Coping after an emergency