Hi Team,
As it stands right now, the flood is not affecting water quality, but there is a possibility that may change after the high water hits us tonight.
We may also see power outages across the city, and if the downtown is affected, we may see communication (phone/internet) affected as well. Many of our news broadcasters have studios downtown, so some of them have already been evacuated.
To prepare your home:
WATER:
The rule of thumb is 4 litres of water/person/day. That's 2 litres (aka 8 cups) for drinking, and 2 litres for food prep.
Preventative:
- Locate the incoming water valve in your home. You'll need to shut it off to stop contaminated water from entering your home if there are reports of broken water or sewage lines.
- If you're already prepared for zombies, you may have water stored already. If not, fill as many food grade plastic, glass, or metal containers with water as possible...even your bathtub. Just make sure it's clean first.
- If you have a camp shower, fill it up.
- For those of you in rural areas, if there is a power outage your pump may be affected, making it difficult to draw water out of the well. Water storage is a good idea just in case.
- Store water out of the sun...although with this weather, we probably won't have to worry about it.
If a Boil Water Advisory is issued
A full boil for at least one minute is recommended. At elevations over 2,000 meters (6,500 feet) you should boil water for at least two minutes to disinfect it. The Calgary International Airport is at 1084 m above sea level. Nose Hill is 1125 m - 1230 m. I'd recommend boiling it for two minutes just to be safe.
- Boil all water used for drinking, preparing food/beverages, ice cubes, brushing teeth, or washing fruits and vegetables.
- You can bathe or shower with unboiled water, just refrain from drinking it.
- If you have a Britta filter, or another similar activated carbon filter designed to improve taste, odour, or chemical quality, you still need to boil the water.
- Disinfectant devices using UV light units may be an alternative to boiling. Check with the manufacturer to be certain.
Other methods to disinfect water:
- chlorine tablets - follow instructions
- unscented household bleach with 5% chlorine, but only if Giardia or cryptosporidiosis (beaver fever) is not a concern. Add 0.05 ml of bleach to 1 L of warm water. Shake, and allow to stand for at least 30 minutes. The longer the water is left to stand, the more effective the disinfection process will be. It should still smell like chlorine after 30 minutes.
- Iodine should be used with warm water (20C) and let stand a minimum of 20 minutes after mixing and before drinking. For cold water (15C or colder), increase waiting time to 40 minutes. If you are using 2% tincture of iodine, use 0.5 ml for every 1L. *NOTE: pregnant women should not use iodine drops*
Some information taken from:
Global News "Boil Water Advisory - what to know" available here: http://globalnews.ca/news/
HealthLinkBC: How to Disinfect Drinking Water http://www.healthlinkbc.ca/
National Terror Alert Response Center's Emergency Water Storage http://www.
POWER OUTAGE:
- Locate your flashlight, extra batteries, and emergency candles and matches. Have them in an easy to find location in case the power goes out suddenly.
- Locate your battery-powered or crank radio
- Charge your cell phones and laptops - it's important for you to stay connected while the power is out.
-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.
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. They give off carbon monoxide. Because you can’t smell or see it, carbon monoxide can cause health problems and is life-threatening
All above information taken from the Government of Canada's "Power Outages - What to Do?" pdf, available here:
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