National Senior Safety Week · November 6–12
Ready when the unexpected happens
If the power went out tonight and stayed out tomorrow, what would change for you?
A prolonged outage can interrupt the routines and services that help you live independently. Think ahead about what you would need, where you could go and who you could contact.
Start with your everyday life
Your plan should reflect your needs and circumstances. Think through these four questions, on your own or with someone you trust. Write down your answers so you can find them when you need them.
1. What would an outage interrupt?
Think through an ordinary day. Would a power outage affect an elevator you use, transportation you rely on or services you regularly receive?
Identify what could change and what alternatives you could arrange.
2. Where could you go, and how would you get there?
A prolonged outage during extreme heat or cold can make staying home unsafe.
Consider where you could go, how you would get there and whether an outage would affect your usual way of leaving home. Discuss arrangements with the people involved before you need them.
3. How would you stay informed and in touch?
Keep important phone numbers somewhere other than your cellphone’s contact list.
Find out where your municipality or local emergency services share information during major disruptions. Think about how you would receive updates if your usual phone or internet service were unavailable.
4. Who could you contact?
Think about someone nearby you could contact if you needed a hand. A neighbour, friend or family member may be able to help with transportation, information or access to a place with power.
Talk about what help might be possible. If you are able, consider who you could check in with, too.
Keep your answers where you can find them
Write your answers on paper so you can refer to them without power or internet access. Use these prompts to organize your notes:
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- What I rely on: What could an outage interrupt?
- My alternatives: What arrangements do I need to make?
- Where I could go: How would I get there?
- Who I could contact: Names and phone numbers.
- Where I would get updates: Local sources of official information.
Keep your notes somewhere easy to find. Discuss the arrangements with anyone involved, and update your answers when your needs or circumstances change.
Have the conversation before an outage
Talk with someone you trust about what an extended outage would change for you and what support you might need.
You could start with:
“If the power stayed out, here’s what I would need to think about. Could we talk about how we would stay in touch?”
Discuss what each person could realistically do, whether that means checking in, helping with transportation or offering somewhere to go. Agree on the arrangements together.
Helping someone else prepare?
Start by asking what a prolonged outage would change for them and what support they would welcome.
Listen to their priorities. Talk through practical arrangements, such as staying in touch, helping with transportation or identifying somewhere they could go.
Agree on what each person can realistically do. If you’re able, offer to work through the planning questions together and help record the arrangements.
Questions about planning ahead
What if I don’t have someone nearby to contact?
Ask your municipality about emergency information and support available in your area.
If you live in a managed building or receive regular support services, ask how an extended outage could affect you and what arrangements you could make ahead of time.
What if I rely on medical equipment or refrigerated medication?
Speak with your health-care provider about preparing for an outage. Discuss equipment that needs electricity or an internet connection, and medication that needs refrigeration.
Is answering these questions a complete emergency plan?
These questions are a starting point. Your wider emergency plan should also account for your household’s supplies, health needs and local risks.
Read the Government of Canada’s power-outage guidance for more information on preparing for an outage.
About National Senior Safety Week
National Senior Safety Week takes place November 6–12.
This year, the Canada Safety Council is encouraging older adults to consider how a prolonged power outage could affect the routines, surroundings and services that support their independence.
You can’t predict every disruption, but you can think ahead about what it could change for you.