City of Toronto ice storm update on Tuesday morning

City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:

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News Release

December 24, 2013

City of Toronto ice storm update on Tuesday morning

The City of Toronto is continuing to provide updated information this morning on ongoing impacts and the City's response to the ice storm.

Toronto Hydro

Toronto Hydro is reporting that it has made significant progress overnight, with approximately 115,000 customers now without power. Hydro crews are continuing to work around the clock to respond.

Toronto Fire Service

Toronto Fire is warning the public not to operate propane, natural gas or charcoal barbecues inside as they can create a dangerous carbon monoxide poisoning hazard if not property vented. Also, do not use a stove or camping gear for heating your home, as they can similarly create a carbon monoxide poisoning and burn hazard. Ensure battery backup is operating for carbon monoxide and smoke detectors.

Community Care Access Centre Clients

Community Care Access Centre clients who use home oxygen and have concerns can call 310-2222 (no area code required) for assistance. All others are asked to contact their oxygen supplier for assistance.

TTC

Please check www.ttc.ca for updates and service alerts.

GO Transit

GO Transit is operating an Adjusted Winter Schedule today. Schedule details are available at http://gotransit.com/public/en/schedules/winterstorm.aspx.

Toronto Roads and Traffic

Salting operations are continuing on collector roads, local roads and sidewalks, with TTC stops a priority. Parking consideration will be provided for residents who park on the street beyond posted times due to limited access to icy driveways. The following roads in Scarborough are closed to traffic, as they are not safe due to fallen power lines and trees:

- Old Kingston Road from Military Trail to Manse Road

- Military Trail from Old Kingston Road to Bobmar Road

- St. Andrews Road from Meldazy Drive to Suraty Avenue

- Colonel Danforth Trail - Bonacres Avenue to dead end

- Highview Avenue at Lillington Avenue

- Pinegrove Road at South Edgely Avenue

Food, Water, Warmth and Rest

The City is operating 12 locations where vulnerable residents and those who need assistance can access food, water, warmth and rest. Pets are welcome.

A total of 774 people were accommodated in these locations last night.

Toronto Community Centre locations are as follows:

Dennis R Timbrell Community Centre, 

29 St. Denis Dr. (Eglinton/Don Mills) Malvern Community Centre, 

30 Sewells Rd. (Neilson/Finch) Agincourt Community Centre, 

31 Glen Walford Rd. (Sheppard/Midland) Driftwood Community Centre, 

4401 Jane St. (between Finch and Steeles) Mitchell Field Community Centre, 

89 Church Ave. (Yonge/Finch) Joseph P Piccininni Community Centre, 

1369 St Clair Ave. W. (St Clair/Keele) Matty Eckler Community Centre, 

953 Gerrard St. E. (Pape/Gerrard) Lawrence Heights Middle School, 

50 Highland Hill (between Ranee and Dane) Edithvale Community Centre, 

131 Finch Ave. W. (between Bathurst and Yonge) Pleasantview Community Centre, 

545 Van Horne Ave. (between Edmonton and Brian) East York Collegiate Institute, 

650 Cosburn Ave. (Coswell/Coxwell) McGregor Park Community Centre, 

2231 Lawrence Ave. E. (Lawrence/Kennedy)

In addition, 13 Toronto Police Service facilities have been identified as having community rooms available for use 24/7 as warming centres:

Division 11 – 2054 Davenport Road (Davenport/Osler) 

Division 12 – 200 Trethewey Drive (Trethewey/Black Creek) 

Division 14 – 350 Dovercourt Road (College/Dovercourt) 

Division 22 – 3699 Bloor Street West (Bloor West/Dundas West) 

Division 23 – 5230 Finch Avenue West (Kipling/Finch) 

Division 31 – 40 Norfinch Road (Norfinch/Finch West) 

Division 33 – 50 Upjohn Road (York Mills/Don Mills) 

Division 42 – 242 Milner Avenue (Milner/Markham) 

Division 51 – 51 Parliament Street (Front/Parliament) 

Division 52 - 255 Dundas Street West (LOBBY ONLY) 

Toronto Police Service College – 70 Birmingham Street (Birmingham/Fifth) 

Toronto Police Service Headquarters – 40 College Street (College/Bay)

Warming Centres – daytime only:

The public is invited to any City building with public space. Due to food safety guidelines, the public is asked not to bring home-made food to the warming/reception centres. Pre-packaged foods are acceptable.

Shelter beds

The City of Toronto will also be making additional shelter spaces/beds available because of the extremely cold weather today.

Toronto Public Libraries

On Tuesday, December 24, all open branches will have holiday hours from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. At least 77 branches expect to be open with full library services - and they can also be used as warming locations. Complete information on locations that are open is available at http://www.torontopubliclibrary.ca.

Toronto Zoo

The Toronto Zoo remains closed today, December 24, for site maintenance related to the ice storm. The zoo will be closed tomorrow, December 25, as scheduled. Updates: http://www.torontozoo.com

Casa Loma

Casa Loma remains without power and is closed today, December 24. It will also be closed tomorrow, December 25, as scheduled. Updates: http://www.casaloma.org

Parks, Forestry and Recreation

Reminder to public that trees remain covered in ice which means parks (anywhere near trees) are very dangerous, particularly in wooded valleys, near slopes and under trees. Park pathways have not been cleared and should not be used. Playgrounds should also be avoided near trees due to falling branches. Public should use extreme caution around parks to prevent slips and falls and should avoid walking under or near trees.

Parks staff who have appropriate chainsaw training and equipment are being deployed to assist in clearing tree debris from roads and paths.

Parks crews will continue to salt and clear debris, focusing on Reception Centres, Community Recreation Centres, parking lots and well-used locations such as rinks.

Two of the City's 51 Outdoor Artificial Ice Rinks are currently closed (Broadlands and Ledbury). Other rink pads remain open for skating purposes, but adjacent rink buildings are closed at many locations due to power outages. Many of these locations will close early due to no lighting availability.

Holiday Waste Pickup

Residents are reminded that there is no collection on Christmas Day or New Year's Day.  This week and next week, curbside collection on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday will move forward one day. This means that Wednesday collection moves to Thursday, Thursday collection moves to Friday, and Friday collection moves to Saturday. Changes are reflected in the residential collection calendar.

Preventing Frozen Pipes

If you don't have heat for your home and the temperature drops to well below freezing, consider leaving a tap open enough for a trickle of water so there is some movement of water in pipes that might be vulnerable to freezing.

If you are leaving your home because of no heat, you can shut off the main service valve in your basement and open your lowest tap to drain the water out of your plumbing lines to prevent them from freezing.

Food Safety

For more information about when to keep and when to throw out refrigerated foods, visit http://www.toronto.ca/health/food_safety  and click on the power outages link on the bottom of the page. 

Bike Share Program (BIXI)

The bike share program will be closed until December 28 in order to clear ice from the various stations and bikes.

Emergency Preparedness

Information and advice about emergency preparedness are available at http://www.toronto.ca/oem.

Social Media Updates

For updates during an emergency event and other City of Toronto information, follow @TorontoComms on Twitter. The City will be using #citystorm when providing updates on the storm.

Toronto is Canada's largest city, the fourth largest in North America, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people. It is a global centre for business, finance, arts and culture and is consistently ranked one of the world's most livable cities. Toronto is proud to be the Host City for the 2015 Pan American and Parapan American Games. For information on non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and visitors can visit www.toronto.ca, call 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, or follow us @TorontoComms.

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Media contact: Wynna Brown, Strategic Communications, 416-919-6503, wbrown1@toronto.ca