City of Toronto Media Relations has issued the following:
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News Release
Afternoon update on City of Toronto services after
intense rainfall on July 8
City of Toronto crews and the City's Emergency Operations
Centre continue to work closely with Toronto Hydro and the TTC to manage the
impacts of yesterday's intense rainfall and to restore service levels as
quickly as possible.
Environment Canada has issued a thunderstorm warning for
the Toronto area this evening, including torrential downpours, damaging winds,
and large hail.
Streams, creeks and rivers may have higher water levels
during this time. Residents are cautioned to avoid these areas. The Don River
will have noticeably higher water levels - use extreme caution in this area.
Toronto Hydro advises that service has been restored to
most areas of the city, however 70,000 customers, mainly located in the west
end of the city, remain without power. Full service restoration is anticipated
by tomorrow morning. Rolling blackouts lasting approximately one hour in length
will be implemented throughout the city to ease the strain on the system.
Toronto electricity consumers are asked to reduce their
electricity use today where possible to help relieve the strain on the system.
Energy conservation tips include:
- Turning off all non-essential internal and external
lights
- Setting air conditioners to at least 25°C
- Using fans as an alternative to air conditioners and
closing curtains/blinds to keep out the sun and retain cooler air inside, and
- Limiting the use of major power-consuming equipment
such as dishwashers, washers and dryers and swimming pool pumps.
For more tips on conserving energy, visit
http://www.torontohydro.com/smartsummer.
Call Toronto Hydro-Electric System’s Lights Out number at 416-542-8000 to
report a power outage in areas other than those already being addressed.
The Red Cross is also working with the City and is
conducting wellness checks at Toronto Community Housing buildings and seniors'
residences in the area affected by prolonged power outages. The Red Cross is
providing information and general messaging on food safety and what to do
during an outage.
Public transit
With the exception of the Bloor-Danforth subway line
between Jane and Kipling stations, the Toronto Transit Commission is operating
at capacity across the system. Commuters should refer to the TTC's Service
Alerts web page for details and up-to-date information at
http://www.ttc.ca. Information on service impacts
for GO Transit commuters is available at:
http://www.gotransit.com.
Road closures
- Front and York Streets intersection (including access
to University Avenue)
- Martin Grove Road between Belfield Road to Bethridge
Road
Motorists are asked to drive carefully and be patient
during this afternoon's rush hour period. Where traffic signals are out,
motorists are reminded to treat affected intersections as a four-way stop.
Please report signal outages to 311.
Special garbage collection
The City will provide special collection on Saturday,
July 13 for waste created by flooding. Residents also have the option of
setting out flood-damaged items on their regular garbage day. Residents are
reminded to check with their insurance company before setting items out for
collection (proof of damage prior to disposal may be needed for reimbursement).
Bulky items such as couches, mattresses or other
furniture do not need to be dismantled. Carpet must be tied in rolls measuring
1.2 m (4 ft) in length. Smaller items should be placed in garbage bags; no
City-issued Bag Tag required. Each bag or roll of carpet cannot weigh more than
20 kg (44 lbs). Please place all flood-damaged material out at the curb by 7
a.m. and leave items out until collected (collection may continue until
Monday).
Place spoiled food items in the Green Bin. Do not set out
any construction/renovation waste (i.e. drywall, wood) or household hazardous
waste (i.e. paint cans, fluorescent lighting tubes/bulbs).
Other City service impacts
- All Toronto Employment and Social Services offices are
operational with the exception of The Queensway office (779 The Queensway)
which is closed due to power outage.
- Children's Services West District office is closed to
due to power outage; clients are being re-directed to the other three offices.
Addresses available at
http://www.toronto.ca/children/pdf/districtoffices.pdf.
- Outdoor sport fields are experiencing closures due to
flooding and water saturation. Outdoor sports fields will remain closed for
Tuesday, July 9, 2013. Permits holders and sports clubs are request to check
the website or speak directly to the Park Supervisor and/or Permit Office staff
to determine potential openings for July 10, 2013 prior to heading out to
ensure that scheduled activities will be permitted.
- Some City-operated swimming pools experienced flooding
and power outages. A list of closed pools is available at
http://www.toronto.ca/parks/prd/swimming/index.htm.
City staff may shut down an outdoor swimming pool at any time if health and
safety is compromised, e.g. by an electrical storm or heavy rain.
- Scarlett Woods golf course is closed until further
notice and Humber Valley is reduced to nine holes; all other courses are
operating. No golf cart access.
- Montgomery's Inn is closed due to power outage; all
other museums are open.
In the event of a flooded basement:
- Call the City of Toronto at 311 to report a blocked
basement drain or sewer backup, or for information or assistance with a blocked
drain, 24 hours-a-day, seven days-a-week. During this extreme weather event,
residents should expect high call volumes. Calls will be answered by the first
available agent.
- Call your insurance company as soon as possible to
report property damage caused by flooding.
- Be mindful of your health and safety when cleaning up a
flooded basement - do not stand in flood water. Call a professional for
assistance. More information about basement flooding is available at
http://www.toronto.ca/water.
During an outage:
- Unplug or turn off all appliances to avoid possible
damage when power resumes.
- Turn off water to the clothes washer and dishwasher if
they are in use when the power goes out.
- Leave a light or radio on so you will know when power
is restored.
- When power has been restored, check all fuses to ensure
that none have been blown.
- Plug in only the most essential appliances first, and
wait 10 to 15 minutes to give the electrical system time to stabilize before
connecting everything else.
Food safety
During a power failure, food kept in the refrigerator or
freezer may become unsafe to eat. The following tips will help ensure food is
stored safely in the event of a power outage:
- Keep your refrigerator door closed to maintain the
temperature inside. Without power, the refrigerator section will keep foods
cool for four to six hours if the door is kept closed.
- Throw out perishable foods such as meat, fish, poultry,
eggs and leftovers that have been at temperatures above 4°C for more than two
hours.
- Keep your freezer door closed to maintain the
temperature inside. Without power, an upright or chest freezer that is
completely full will keep food frozen for about 48 hours - if the door is kept
closed. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours.
- Foods that have thawed in the freezer may be refrozen
if they still contain ice crystals or are at 4°C or below. Evaluate each item
separately.
- Partial thawing and refreezing may reduce the quality
of some food, but food will remain safe to eat.
As always, residents are asked to check in on elderly
neighbours or those who may need assistance.
The City reminds residents that 911 is an emergency
number. Use the non-emergency police number 416-808-2222 for non-life
threatening situations.
Toronto is Canada's largest city and sixth largest
government, and home to a diverse population of about 2.8 million people.
Toronto's government is dedicated to delivering customer service excellence,
creating a transparent and accountable government, reducing the size and cost
of government and building a transportation city. For information on
non-emergency City services and programs, Toronto residents, businesses and
visitors can dial 311, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
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Media contacts:
Jackie DeSouza, Director, Strategic Communications,
416-397-5277,
jdsouz@toronto.ca Andrea
Gonsalves, Senior Communications Advisor, Strategic Communications,
416-397-4149,
agonsalv@toronto.ca
“The reason we could that was because the Toronto Police Service, local artists, the judiciary and court staff all worked together to make something happen and it’s just been a matter of weeks so you can imagine my delight.”
