Southwestern Ontario Public Health Unit 1

Incident Action Plan Large Scale Power Outage

Heather Bond
Conestoga college

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Southwestern Ontario Public Health Unit 2

Introduction
As the emergency planning lead for the southwestern Ontario public health unit I am
writing the basis for the response to a large-scale power outage that is currently happening.
The health unit serves a total population 120 000 within both rural and urban areas. On Friday
January 13, 2017 about 100 000 residents are without power and are expected to be out for
several days. Although the weather has been reasonably mild this winter the weather reports
expect a cold front to move into the area. In this response I have also included a thorough
Incident Action Plan to help prevent and mitigate the identified risks that are expected to result
from this power outage.

The power outage occurred due to drooping power lines which shut off once they got
tangled into the trees. Due to some of the power lines shutting down, the other power lines
had to carry a higher than normal load and could not handle the extra burden. As a result, there
is a cascade of failing power lines in the southwestern Ontario region. Unfortunately, the
equipment did not give any early indication that a large-scale power disruption would occur.
The hydro companies must first restore power to enablers of power restoration and then to
priority customer loads such as hospitals and water facilities (City of Toronto, 2016). The goal of
this response is to ensure a plan and mitigation strategies are in place in order to protect the
residents in the area from disease transmission and physical harm.

This response plan was made based on the following assumptions:

The power outage will last about a week for most residents in southwestern Ontario
but, as the week goes by some residents will regain power sooner
Based on incoming weather reports, a strong cold front will be coming in during the
power outage
100 000 out of 120 000 residents are currently without power
The acute care hospital has an inventory of vaccines that they need to keep stored at
safe temperatures
Health and social service agencies will be available to assist with emergency response

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Radio stations will have running generators and will be able to broadcast to the public
about all safety issues
Power disruptions may impact a number of city operations such as the ability to
remotely monitor and control water/wastewater infrastructure and meet drinking water
quality standards and pressure requirements (City of Toronto, 2016)
The demand for fuel to operate generators and for transportation will be high
The regions potable water system was constructed so that gravity alone maintained the
water pressure (Beatty, Phelps, Rohner, & Weisfuse, 2006)

Some potential risks that can be associated with this type of disaster include food safety
issues, water safety issues (potable water, water purification systems), fire hazards, vaccine
storage temperatures, extreme cold and hypothermia, carbon monoxide poisoning, and the risk
of other extreme weather events (snow/ice storm) which may amplify the current situation.

Foodborne illness rates have a tendency to increase during power outages due to food
not being stored at proper temperatures (Beatty, Phelps, Rohner, & Weisfuse, 2006). The
danger zone for food is between 4C and 60C, this is the temperature range where bacteria
will rapidly grow. Refrigerators that are not being backed up by a generator will slowly lose
their temperature over time and spoil the food faster. The other issue is cooking, residents will
not be able to boil water or cook their food to safe temperatures that kill off bacteria. Food
premises that try to remain open will also pose risks to the public if the conditions are not met
according to the Food Premise Act (CDC, 2017). There still needs to be hot water available so
food handlers can effectively wash their hands and a way to safely cook food before they spoil
from being in the danger zone for too long. In order to mitigate these risks it is important that
the public health unit provides inspection activities at commercial food storage and preparation
facilities that wish to run during the outage. The health unit also needs to provide disease
prevention and food safety advice to the community during the power outage. A full freezer
will keep food frozen for 24 to 36 hours if the door remains closed (Public Safety Canada, 2015).

During a power outage, residents may be left without hot water or even running water.
Water purification systems may also not be working as optimally as they should be or not at all

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(CDC, 2017). This poses a risk to the citys drinking water supply and it may be unsafe for
consumption or washing. Loss of water pressure is not a risk in this region because the system
was constructed so that gravity along can maintain it and therefore, there is no additional risks
of contamination (Beatty, Phelps, Rohner, & Weisfuse, 2006)For those living in rural areas and
have their own private wells and septic systems there will likely be a loss of pressure. These
residents will be at risk for sewage contamination due to backflow. During the power outage
routine microbial monitoring of potable water will be necessary in order to minimize the health
risks (Beatty, Phelps, Rohner, & Weisfuse, 2006). For those with private systems, they should
take care to not run the taps often as this will encourage sewage backup and increase the
likelihood of disease transmission.

Fire may be a hazard during a power outage due to the increase of candle use, gas-
powered generators, and dangerous powerlines that have fallen and are in contact with a
vehicle. If a powerline falls onto a vehicle there is a risk a fire can start and endanger those that
are in it (CDC, 2017). Some residents may forget to blow out all the candles they have lit in their
house and the unattended flames could start a household fire creating infrastructure damage
and other health risks. To reduce these risks residents should use battery-powered flashlights
and lanterns over candles, gas lanterns, or torches (CDC, 2017). In case of a powerline fire the
people involved should contact 911 immediately for further instructions and assistance.

The acute care hospital within our region holds many vaccines including; MMR and
Variax, which are highly sensitive to elevated temperatures (CDC, 2017). Vaccine spoilage due
to a loss of refrigeration is another potential negative outcome from a power outage. During
emergencies vaccinations are considered a priority service and must still be administered. It is
important that vaccines do not get spoiled as they will no longer be useful to the public. In
order to prevent spoilage, refrigerators and freezers should remain closed to conserve the cold
mass of the vaccines. If alternative storage with a reliable power source is available then
transfer to that facility should be considered (Beatty, Phelps, Rohner, & Weisfuse, 2006).

Given that the current power outage is occurring in the winter season with a cold front
expecting to come forward there is a risk for extreme cold and hypothermia. Residents will lose

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their ability to run heaters and may rapidly lose their body heat as a result. Hypothermia
happens when a persons core body temperature is lower than 35C (CDC, 2017). Some
strategies that can be implemented to reduce the risk for hypothermia include wearing lots of
layers of clothing, using blankets, and having public health units set up warming stations.

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless gas that can be lethal. It is found in the fumes
produced from small engines, stoves, lanterns, fireplaces, gas ranges, and generators (CDC,
2017). There is an increased risk of carbon monoxide poisoning during a power outage.
Residents often think to bring their grill, generator, or fireplace inside during a power outage,
especially in the winter. This is hazardous as they release carbon monoxide and it is only
detected by a carbon monoxide detector. A detector will not work unless there is a backup
battery supply and residents should be reminded of this (Public Safety of Canada, 2015).
Symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning include headaches, dizziness, weakness, upset
stomach, chest pain, and confusion (CDC, 2017). CDC Media outlets such as the radio should be
used to remind residents to keep their generators, charcoal/gas barbecues, and camp heating
equipment outdoors to minimize the risk.

Other weather events may worsen the risks associated with the power outage or prolong
the event. In the winter ice and snowstorms are a fairly common occurrence. These can create
hazardous road conditions, snow-ins, and are usually affiliated with colder temperatures. With
no heat from the power outage a variety of safety and health hazards will be present. To
prepare for this event it is best to monitor the temperature and weather reports on an ongoing
basis. This may also further deplete our resources as plows will need to fuel up more to catch
up to the continuous snowfall. We need the roads clear for emergency vehicles, first
responders, and public health workers to aid the residents.

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Southwestern Ontario Public Health Unit 6

Incident Action Plan

Incident Name

Large Scale Power Outage in Southwestern Ontario

Operational Period
From (Date/Time) January 13, 2017 To (Date/Time Approx. January 20,
6:00pm 2017 6:00pm
Current Situation

100 000 out of the 120 000 residents in the geographic area are experiencing a large-scale power
failure that is expected to occur for several days. This was a result of some powerlines dropping down
into the trees and shutting down as a result of snow, ice and cold weather. This caused other power
lines to carry the extra burden but they could not handle the load and a cascade of failures was
triggered. The systems typically in place to warn of a growing electrical problem had failed and
multiple powerlines are now in need of repair.

Goals
To ensure the safety of the residents by mitigating risks and providing information on how to
keep warm, food and water safety, fire hazards, and the risks of carbon monoxide
To find a way to safely store vaccines during the power outage

Top Priorities per HIRA Grid Analysis (Impact/Probability)

High/High Mitigation Strategy Assigned to (agency Resources Needed

and/or specific person)
Have volunteers Safety Officer warming station
Extreme provide resources for Emergency
Cold/Hypothermia keeping warm Preparedness Spare blankets,
Coordinator flashlights, candles,
Keep the public batteries
informed on how to
stay warm with fire, Volunteers to assist the
blankets, and other handing out of
strategies resources and running
the warming station
warming stations set
up to the public Media outlets to
broadcast and promote
warming station for
residents and
strategies

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Food Safety Manager Thermometers for

Food Safety Issues Volunteers for a Meals at Southwestern fridges and freezers
on wheels service Ontarios Public Health
Unit Posters and brochures
provide food stations to inform public about
keeping food safe
inspect food premises during a blackout; food
that are running during disposal information
outage
Media outlets (radio)
Educate public on food to broadcast messages
safety at home and
how to prevent Volunteers to help run
spoilage from occurring Meals on Wheels and
faster food stations

6 Public Health
Inspectors to monitor
food premises that are
running during the
power outage
Test water supplies at Environmental Public Water sample bottles
Drinking Water Issues high priority places first Health Officer Safe
(hospitals) Water Specialist Support of Public
Health Ontario
Continue to monitor Laboratory to conduct
and run microbial tests testing
on water
Individual water bottles
Ensure a supply of
bottled water is Other Environmental
available to residents Public Health Officers
at food stations and for support
hand them out
Volunteers to aid
passing out bottled
water to residents
High/Low or Low/High Contingency Plan Assigned to (agency Resources Needed
and/or specific person)
Fire Hazards Ensure residents are Officer of the Fire Support from hydro
aware of fire danger Marshall and electrical
when lighting candles companies to fix
and leaving them powerline issues
unattended
Media outlets to
Provide high quality, broadcast messages
safe, effective, and (radios)

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caring emergency
response services

Tend to powerlines
that have crashed
down and those that
are in contact with
peoples vehicles
-remind residents to Manager, Communications
Carbon Monoxide place a battery back up Communications specialists to assist the
Poisoning into carbon monoxide drafting of messages
detector if one isnt in for public
there already
-warn residents to keep Media outlets to
generators, barbecues, broadcast messages
fireplaces outdoors (radios)
Transfer to an area Manager Public Thermometer for
with a reliable power Health Nurse fridges
source if available
Storage of Vaccines Logbook for
Keep fridge and freezer recording/tracking
closed to maintain temperature changes
temperatures for and time log
longer
3 Public Health Nurses
Monitor temperatures to assist with the
when being relocated monitoring and
transferring of vaccines
Low/Low Actions Assigned to (agency Resources Needed
and/or specific person)
Monitor the Liaison Officer Communication with
Snow/ice storm temperatures and Emergency weather stations
weather Preparedness
Coordinator Media outlets to
If a change in broadcast messages
temperature or a storm (radios)
is expected a plan for
evacuation may be Communication with
necessary snow plows

keep up with plowing Communication with

the streets to the best the logistics team to
our ability given limited account for fuel
fuel resources resources

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References
Beatty, M., Phelps, S., Rohner, C., & Weisfuse, I. (2006). Blackout of 2003: Public Health Effects and
Emergency Response. Public Health Reports, 36-44.

CDC. (2017, September 27). Carbon Monoxide Poisoning. Retrieved from Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention: https://www.cdc.gov/co/faqs.htm

CDC. (2017, September 14). Impact of Power Outages on Vaccine Storage. Retrieved from Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/vaccinestorage.html

CDC. (2017, September 14). What You Need to Know When the Power Goes out Unexpectedly. Retrieved
from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
https://www.cdc.gov/disasters/poweroutage/needtoknow.html

City of Toronto. (2016). Risk Specific Plan - Power Disruption(electricity). Toronto: City of Toronto.

Public Safety of Canada. (2015, January 15). Power Outages - What to do? Retrieved from Government
of Canada - Get Prepared: https://www.getprepared.gc.ca/cnt/rsrcs/pblctns/pwrtgs-wtd/index-
en.aspx#s1