How to prepare for and survive an ice storm outage: damage to lines and trees, long outages, travel, downed lines and warming centres.
- Ice storms can cause multi-day outages, so plan for days.
- Treat all downed lines as live and keep well away.
- Never use fuel burning heaters or generators indoors.
Freezing rain coats everything in ice. Branches snap, trees fall and power lines sag or break under the weight. Ice storms have caused some of the longest and widest outages in Canadian and northern US history, sometimes lasting days or longer for some homes. This guide covers what to do before, during and after.
Why ice storms cause long outages
Ice adds a lot of weight to lines and branches. Falling trees can take down lines and block roads, which slows repair crews. Damage may be spread over a large area, so crews must work in order, restoring main lines before neighbourhood ones. Icy roads can also slow repairs. That is why many people are without power for longer than in a typical storm. Plan for several days, not hours.
Before the storm
- Charge phones, power banks and any battery devices.
- Fill the gas tank and keep your car fuel topped up.
- Stock drinking water and no-cook food. See our 72-hour checklist.
- Have warm layers, blankets and a safe heat plan. See our winter storm checklist.
- Know where your breaker panel and water shutoff are.
- Move vehicles away from trees and cars away from overhead lines if possible.
During the storm
Stay home if you can. Roads can be glazed with ice and dangerous even for careful drivers. Listen to a battery or hand-crank radio; see emergency radios. Keep the fridge and freezer closed. Dress in layers and stay in one room to keep it warmer. Never use a generator, grill, camp stove or fuel heater inside your home or garage, because carbon monoxide can build up quickly and kills.
Tree safety
Iced trees can drop heavy limbs without warning, sometimes hours after the rain stops. Keep away from damaged trees, and do not park or walk beneath them. Do not try to clear big limbs, or any that touch lines, yourself. Hire a qualified tree service or wait for local crews. Chainsaws on iced and damaged trees are dangerous even for experienced users.
Downed power lines
Treat every downed or sagging line as live, even if it looks dead or is not sparking. Stay at least several metres (many utilities say 10 metres or about 33 feet) away, keep others away, and call your utility and emergency services. Do not touch anything in contact with a line, including a fence, tree or vehicle. If a line falls on your car, stay inside and wait for help unless there is a fire.
Travel
If you must travel, tell someone your route, carry a winter kit and keep the tank at least half full. Traffic lights may be out, so treat dark intersections as four-way stops. Turn around if conditions are poor. For vehicle kit ideas, see our winter car emergency kit guide.
Warming centres and when to go
Many municipalities open warming centres during long cold outages. Check your city website, local radio or emergency alerts for locations. Go if your home is getting too cold, if someone has health needs, or if you cannot heat safely. Bring medication, documents, phone chargers and pets if allowed. Check on neighbours first, especially older adults. For more on staying warm, see staying warm without power.
After the storm
Do not walk near damaged trees or hanging branches. Report hazards, throw out food that has been above safe temperatures, and check your home for damage. Keep reporting your outage to your utility and watch official updates.
Canada and northern US context
Several Canadian and northern US regions have lived through severe ice storms that left large numbers of homes without power for days or longer, and put heavy strain on warming centres and repair crews. Lessons from those events are consistent: stay home if it is safe, keep warm in one room, keep away from trees and lines, check on neighbours, and have supplies for several days. Build a kit using the 72-hour checklist.
Quick answers
How far should I stay from a downed power line?
Many utilities advise at least 10 metres (about 33 feet) and to assume the line is live. Call your utility and emergency services.
Can I clear fallen branches myself?
Small branches away from lines are usually fine. For large limbs, damaged trees or anything touching a line, wait for qualified crews.