Winter Weather

Be prepared during the winter months

Winter brings with it a host of situations that require preparation and planning! From power outages due to snow and ice storms to snow shoveling and winter road maintenance there are many factors to consider to keep you and your famiy safe - please find a number of resources below.

Power and Planning

Power Outage Information

For local power outage information, please visit:

Energy+ Inc. power outage information

Hyrdo One power outage information

Before a power outage

You can install a non-electric standby stove or heater. Choose heating units that are not dependent on an electric motor, electric fan, or some other electric device to function. It is important to adequately vent the stove or heater with the type of chimney flue specified for it. Never connect two heating units to the same chimney flue at the same time.
If you have a wood-burning fireplace, have the chimney cleaned every fall in preparation for use and to eliminate creosote build-up which could ignite and cause a chimney fire.
If the standby heating unit will use the normal house oil or gas supply, have it connected with shut-off valves by a certified tradesperson.
Before considering the use of an emergency generator during a power outage, check with furnace, appliance and lighting fixture dealers or manufacturers regarding power requirements and proper operating procedures.

People with disabilities or others requiring assistance

Consider how you may be affected in a power outage, including:

Your evacuation route - without elevator service (if applicable).
Planning for a backup power supply for essential medical equipment.
Keeping a flashlight and a cell phone handy to signal for help.
Establishing a self-help network to assist and check on you during an emergency.
Enrolling in a medical alert program that will signal for help if you are immobilized.
Keeping a list of facilities that provide life-sustaining equipment or treatment.
Keeping a list of medical conditions and treatment.
If you live in an apartment, advise the property management that you may need assistance staying in your apartment or that you must be evacuated if there is a power outage. This will allow the property manager to plan and make the necessary arrangements on your behalf.

During a power outage

First, check whether the power outage is limited to your home. If your neighbours' power is still on, check your own circuit breaker panel or fuse box. If the problem is not a breaker or a fuse, check the service wires leading to the house. If they are obviously damaged or on the ground, stay at least 10 meters back and notify your electric supply authority. Keep the number along with other emergency numbers near your telephone.
If your neighbours' power is also out, notify your electric supply authority.
Energy+ Inc

Hyrdo One
Turn off all tools, appliances and electronic equipment, and turn the thermostat(s) for the home heating system down to minimum to prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored. Also, power can be restored more easily when there is not a heavy load on the electrical system.
Turn off all lights, except one inside and one outside, so that both you and hydro crews outside know that power has been restored.
Don't open your freezer or fridge unless it is absolutely necessary. A full freezer will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed.
Never use charcoal or gas barbecues, camping heating equipment, or home generators indoors or in garages. They give off carbon monoxide. Because you can't smell or see it, carbon monoxide can cause health problems and is life-threatening.
Use proper candle holders. Never leave lit candles unattended and keep out of reach of children. Always extinguish candles before going to bed.
Listen to your battery-powered or wind-up radio for information on the outage and advice from authorities.
Tips:
- Make sure your home has a working carbon monoxide detector. If it is hard-wired to the house's electrical supply, ensure it has a battery-powered back-up.
- Protect sensitive electrical appliances such as TVs, computer, and DVD players with a surge-protecting powerbar.

Use of home generators

Home generators are handy for backup electricity in case of an outage, but must only be used in accordance with the manufacturer's guidelines. A back-up generator may only be connected to your home's electrical system through an approved transfer panel and switch that has been installed by a qualified electrician. Never plug a generator into a wall outlet as serious injury can result when the current produced by the home generator is fed back into the electrical lines, and transformed to a higher voltage. This can endanger the lives of utility employees working to restore the power.

To operate a generator safely:

Follow the manufacturer's instructions.
Ensure that the generator operates outdoors in well-ventilated conditions, well away from doors or windows, and never in your garage, to prevent exhaust gases from entering the house.
Connect lights and appliances directly to the generator. If extension cords must be used, ensure they are properly rated, CSA-approved cords.

After a power outage

Do not enter a flooded basement unless you are sure the power is disconnected.
Do not use flooded appliances, electrical outlets, switch boxes or fuse-breaker panels until they have been checked and cleaned by a qualified electrician.
Replace the furnace flue (if removed) and turn off the fuel to the standby heating unit.
Switch on the main electric switch (before, check to ensure appliances, electric heaters, TVs, microwaves computers, etc. were unplugged to prevent damage from a power surge).
Give the electrical system a chance to stabilize before reconnecting tools and appliances. Turn the heating-system thermostats up first, followed in a couple of minutes by reconnection of the fridge and freezer. Wait 10 to 15 minutes before reconnecting all other tools and appliances.
Close the drain valve in the basement.
Turn on the water supply. Close lowest valves/taps first and allow air to escape from upper taps.
Make sure that the hot water heater is filled before turning on the power to it.
Check food supplies in refrigerators, freezers and cupboards for signs of spoilage. If a freezer door has been kept closed, food should stay frozen 24 to 36 hours, depending on the temperature. When food begins to defrost (usually after two days), it should be cooked; otherwise it should be thrown out.
As a general precaution, keep a bag of ice cubes in the freezer. If you return home after a period of absence and the ice has melted and refrozen, there is a good chance that the food is spoiled. When in doubt, throw it out!
Reset your clocks, automatic timers, and alarms.
Restock your emergency kit so the supplies will be there when needed again.

The above information can be found online here

Emergency Survival Kit (72 Hours)

Everyone should keep a survival kit of crucial supplies in case an emergency happens and utilities are out, roads are closed or you can't leave your home. Prepare to take care of yourself and your family for up to three days. Make sure everyone in your family knows where your emergency kit items are stored.

Essentials

Equipment

Car Kit

Roads during the winter months

On the roads

Fun Fact: In the County of Brant, we have over 2200 kilometers of lanes to plow, salt and sand! In a snow or ice event, the winter maintenance vehicles may need to clear and/or treat the same roads several times.

2200 kilometers is equivalent to driving from Paris, Ontario to the tip of Cape Breton Island, Nova Scotia or from Burford, Ontario to Winnipeg, Manitoba!

Five things to Remember During the Winter

Fire Hydrants: If a fire hydrant near your property is buried by drifts or snow banks, please dig it out or contact the County of Brant at 519.449.2451.
Windrows: We understand your frustration when you clear your driveway and then a snowplow comes by and leaves a pile of snow; a windrow. Unfortunately, it is impossible to clear snow from the roads without leaving one.
Parking: Parked cars are a snowplow operator's biggest obstacle. If your street has not been plowed, please do not park on it. During a snow emergency, you cannot park on streets with "No Parking Snow Route" signs posted. Vehicles cannot be parked in the same spot for more than 24 hours. Several areas in the county have time-limited parking. Parking time limits are posted in these areas, and vehicles parked over the time limits are subject to parking tickets.
Dumping Snow on Roads: Remember that it is illegal to deposit snow from your property onto the road.
Patience: When plowing operations begin, the operators are following routes that have been designed to minimize duplication and maximize efficiency.

For more information on Winter Maintenance of County roads please visit the Winter Maintenance page.

Snow Removal - How You Can Assist

Snow Plowing and Clearing Sidewalks

The County of Brant is responsible for winter maintenance activities on all municipally owned streets and roads and for clearing sidewalks fronting on municipally owned properties. As per County of Brant Snow Clearing By-Law (# 243-00), property owners are responsible for clearing snow from sidewalks fronting their private property.

Maintenance of Entrances (all entranceways)

Property owners having an entrance to a Municipal road are fully responsible for the maintenance of the entrance including the removal of snow and ice and keeping the portion of the entrance within the right-ofway in a safe condition for vehicular traffic. Each entrance to a municipal road must be designed, constructed and maintained in a manner that will prevent surface water from the entrance way or from the adjoining property being discharged via the entrance onto the travelled portion of the highway.

Mailboxes

Due to the requirements of Canada Post, the location of rural mailboxes may interfere with the clearance of snow from the shoulder area of the roadway by County of Brant snowplows. The snowplow operators clear the snow as far back as is feasible, any remaining snow is to be cleared by the boxholder. Should a mailbox be damaged by snow or ice being cleared by a snowplow, it will be the responsibility of the boxholder to repair/replace the mailbox. As per Canada Post guidelines, the area in front of a rural mailbox must be kept clear of snow and ice to ensure uninterrupted delivery of letters and parcels. Replacing or reinstalling a mailbox that becomes damaged or knocked down is the responsibility of the owner. Should a mailbox be damaged by physical contact with a snowplow, the County of Brant will assess the damage, and if appropriate, repair or replace the mailbox.

Snow Buddies Program

Do you have difficulty shovelling and clearing snow?

Register with the County of Brant Snow Buddies Program! The County of Brant will help those who need assistance find a nearby neighbours to help with basic snow removal (on your property).

If you are 12 years or older, please consider being a Snow Buddy. The County is in need of many more Snow Buddies. Snow Buddies may receive volunteer hours or a small fee for the snow removal. Find out more about the Snow Buddies Program.

For information on the County of Brant Snow Buddies Program, please contact Sarah Dredge, Recreation Coordinator, at Sarah.Dredge@brant.ca or 519.442.1818 x 3254.

Warming Centres

Stay warm

Looking to warm up? Visit a County of Brant Office or Community Centre to get out of the cold. Visit our warming centres page for more information.

Cancellations and Updates

Cancellations

Wanting updates on recreation programs? Visit the updates page.

For information on garbage collection and more please visit the news and notices page and subscibe to recieve updates at www.brant.ca/subscribe.

Outdoor Winter Fun and Safety Tips

Outdoor Skating Rinks

This winter, the County offers fun outdoor skating rinks which are available at:

Poplar Hills Park (20 Kingsmount Cres., Brantford),
Mt. Pleasant Park (555 Burtch Rd., Mt. Pleasant),
Syl Apps (51 William St., Paris) and,
Sunny Hill Park (87 Sunny Dr., St. George)

Places to Toboggan

Tobogganing can occur at:

Bemrose Park (86 Whitlaw Way, Paris) and,
King William Park (52 King William St., St. George)

Winter Recreation

Winter Weather doesnt have to keep you from being active - check out the Outdoor Winter Activities page as well as Winter Active this February - many FREE programs are being offered to encourage residents to keep moving over the Winter months!

Check out a local skate -Public Skates - Parent and Tot - Adult Skates and more!

Safety Tips

In the winter, the public playgrounds, trails and parks are often not maintained and parental supervision is always a good idea to assess safety.

The following are a few safety tips that will ensure a great outdoor time in the winter:

Playground safety tips:

Playground equipment becomes a slippery slope in the winter and the risk of slips and falls increase. During the winter, the pliant ground cover may freeze and become hard, putting kids at increased risk of injury. It’s best to avoid playground equipment in the winter.

Parks and Trails safety tips:

We are so fortunate to have many rivers, ponds and creeks throughout the County. Make sure children and pets are properly supervised near water, whether it is frozen or flowing.
Hike with a friend in winter. Daylight hours are short in the winter and the sun goes down quickly. Begin your trip early in the day. And remember, deep snow may obscure trail blazing or trail markers.

Other winter safety tips:

Sledding is a fun activity and parental supervision is a good idea for youngsters. Avoid sledding on a hill near roads, trails, trees, fences, or other dangerous obstacles.
Stormwater Management Ponds are designed to collect and retain storm water. It is not a safe place to skate or play near.
And please remember, children should avoid playing around or on snowbanks by the road to avoid an accidental collision with a vehicle.

Although winter has had a slow start this year, we are thrilled to finally welcome the snow. Dress warm, be safe and have fun in this beautiful place we call the County of Brant!