As Yukon continues to deal with a prolonged spell of extreme cold, emergency officials are advising people to be prepared in case of a power outage.
On Tuesday, the territory’s energy minister issued a statement saying the territory’s power grid was under “significant strain,” and suggested the potential for rolling blackouts in Whitehorse if the system were to buckle under that strain.
Minister Ted Laking said that the territory reached an all-time record peak demand of 123 megawatts on Monday. He said the territory’s grid can produce about 140 megawatts, “in ideal conditions.”
Also on Monday, residents in Haines Junction saw their power go out for several hours due to an exhaust issue at the local generating station. Laking said that put additional strain on the territory’s grid.
Shane Skarnulis, manager of response operations with the territory’s Emergency Measures Organization, said on Tuesday there is “a lot of concern that we may be facing a power outage in the next couple of days.”
Skarnulis said it’s important for Yukoners to have a 72-hour emergency kit ready, tailored to winter weather with a light source, a communications device, warm clothing, baby food, pet supplies, a first aid kit, hygiene items and medications.
He also urged people to have a plan, which can look different for different households. Some might just be firing up the woodstove. Others, who rely on electric heat and don’t have a backup, should shut off rooms that don’t have water pipes in them, to keep heat contained.
“Most of these buildings, because they’re new builds, have extremely efficient construction that will retain heat longer,” Skarnulis says.
People can also put blankets next to door seals or hang them in front of windows, to keep the heat in, he said.
For residents on city water, the pumping stations have backup generators. Others on well water might find their pumps don’t work. Part of their plan should include having drinking water on hand, says Skarnulis.
Keeping vehicles topped up with fuel and having a spare jerry can is also a good idea, though Skarnulis said there’s no concern at the moment about the territory’s fuel supply.
“Fuel is being delivered daily,” he said.
Some gas pumps in the territory have periodically stopped working in the cold, but Skarnulis says those are likely issues with touch-screen technology on the pumps — not a limited fuel supply.
People who have generators should know how to safely connect them to their home, he said. If done wrong, they can send power back into the power lines, which might put workers on those lines in danger.
Skarnulis also emphasizes that no one should run a generator, propane heater, camp stove or barbeque inside, because of the carbon monoxide risk.
He said most people will lose internet access during an outage, so radio is where to go for emergency information, including where warming centres might be located.
Skarnulis says warming centres are established on a community-by-community basis. He says people should wait to find out where a warming centre is, because some public buildings may not have a working backup power system.
Kevin Lyslo, the manager of health, safety and emergency management for the City of Whitehorse, says that if rolling blackouts were to happen, the city will work with the territorial government to open warming centres.
That starts with the Canada Games Centre and other pre-identified locations. If it were an overnight blackout, setting up lodging with cots would be the next step.
For now, though, Lyslo said the feeling is that “things are being handled.”
“We feel we’re well prepared,” he said.
Besides being asked to reduce electricity use right now, Yukoners are also being advised by RCMP to avoid unnecessary travel in the extreme cold.
RCMP Sgt. John Gillis says that so far this month, police have responded to almost double the amount of collisions and vehicle incidents compared to the same time period last month.
He’s urging anybody who needs to be on the road to slow down, give others space, clear their windows, and drive to conditions. He also suggests having an InReach device, or another way to communicate outside of cell service.
If drivers have trouble on a remote stretch of road, RCMP are still making patrols. The best option is to flag down another driver and get to somewhere with service, Gillis says.
“Safety is a shared responsibility at this time of year,” he said.
Still, he says, police “are still available to respond” when needed.
The Whitehorse Fire Department has also seen an uptick in calls related to the cold weather. Deputy fire chief Brad Lemaich says firefighters have been out 17 times in the past two days, which is “far from our normal call volume.”
He says people might be tempted to do things they normally wouldn’t, when it comes to safely using space heaters or extension cords. But he urges people to not take risks, and to slow down and think things through before acting.
Like Gillis, he says Yukoners should know that emergency services are available.
“Maybe we have to drive a little bit slower than we would in other times of year,” Lemaich said. “But we’re here 24/7, 365.”
