Ice Storm Toronto, Dec 22 2013: Reflections

Saw it coming, I did, through my incessant weather forecast watching here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Warned, we were, by the sages of climate. Still we really did not know the gravity of the situation, nor that we were to lose power for 18 hours. As we are always prepared, this matters little, because we know where everything necessary is located and we have done this before. It is worthwhile reflecting on what worked and what needs improvement, so that the next one, an inevitable event, really, will be that much more fulfilling.

Blackouts are necessary to reset our technology lifestyle, as necessary as the brush fires of the forests that usher in new growth. City blackouts reset the technologically savvy city folk into understanding that the virtual world we live in is just that: virtual. There are forces beyond our control that solidly and unequivocally show us that man, who believes we are in control, is truly not. This lesson, common throughout the rest of the world, with the exception of the spoiled first world, must be retaught every couple of years. It is a lesson I stress to my two little weeds, to not only welcome the radical change, but to embrace it, to take advantage of how it changes our life perspective and to enjoy the radical shift, albeit short lived.

What we did Right: It is not the preparation that is important but the systems already in place and how they get deployed that is critical.

• Heat: As our home has a wood burning fireplace, this is our go-to solution for heat and the preferred on for cooking. Wood had been collected over a number of years, dated and dried so that it could be deployed immediately. Storing and preparing wood takes both time and effort, over a long period of time.This prep includes kindling, small and large branches, preferably in hardwood. When the blackout occurs, we simply fetch what we need.

  We also knew how to light a fire in the fireplace. This is certainly a learned skill. I have encouraged Little Weed to learn this, with my help as well as at Scouts. Trying to light the fireplace during a blackout is undesirable and could prove fatal. The Big Weed learned how to light a fire at Guides. Knowledge of these primitive skills does have direct bearing on city life, believe it or not.

• Cooking: I had found a chrome grill from a discarded electric stove that just happened to fit our fireplace. Both sides were supported by bricks. This grilling system worked surprising well, and the bricks retain and then give off heat when the fire dies down. This system I figured out during our summer backyard campout with the local kids.

  On the grill we put on a cast iron skillet. With a little oil a metal spatula and a silicone glove we were able to fry up some eggs. Toasted bread was done by putting the bread directly on the grill for a surprisingly short period of time. Our kettle was put into open hearth service and functioned much the same but slower than on our electric stove. Boiling water took about 20 minutes and was not as hot as on the stove. No matter for hot water and fangbian mian 方便面.

• Entertainment: We used the time to play board games, to talk and to tend to the fire and cook. This passed the time quite quickly and was most enjoyable. As a technology person it concerns me that we as a society are addicted to our little digital devices, nose to the backlighting, and oblivious to the real world. This lesson I want to impress on my kids. We do not need technology to live. Technology is not a human right. Technology is not necessary for happiness nor safety. Technology is a “nice to have”.
• Lighting: Lighting, without a doubt, is far more dangerous without electricity. Barring each family member wearing a spelunking style head mounted flashlight, candles are deployed. We always have candles, know where they are and know how to light them. Candles and any other open flame can burn your house down, so it is with some concern that we light and use them. All candles are placed on a ceramic dish of some kind, in order to catch dripping but as well to prevent candles from falling over and starting a fire.
• Communications: We continue to pay for and use a landline phone, very useful in a blackout. Landline phones are underground, protecting them from falling trees, but as well the have their own power supply independent of the electrical grid, rendering them still operable during a blackout.

  Not only do we have a landline phone but we also have a couple traditional corded phones in use. These phones are not cordless, meaning that when the power is cut they continue to work. I found this useful to remember when a neighbour phoned me from her cell because she gave away her old corded phones. Why pay for a landline when you give away your corded phones?

  My neighbour with the internet phone was without communications. cell towers were down due to no power and Big Weed’s cell was unable to find any bars, and was near dead due to not being recharged.

• Clear the road of fallen tree branches: Few neighbours came out to clear the road of the many trees that broke due to ice buildup. For us to rely on city workers to do all the work we would have to wait a very long time. In emergency situations we should do all we can to help ourselves. Why is it so difficult for able bodied neighbours to not help out?

  I have an array of gardening tools I use to maintain our trees. These I used to clear the road of all but the heaviest tree branches. The most important tool was my saw specifically designed to cut green wood. Though time consuming the work is not really very difficult but it is necessary to keep the road clear and safe. Not only is it important for local traffic but also for emergency services.

• Check on Neighbours: Once settled down I began to call our neighbours to ensure they were Ok with heat and food. It is good to know your neighbours so that they can help you if necessary and vice versa.

Improvements Required: There are always items we need to improve, and our blackout experience showed us this.

• Get a gas stove: We currently have an electric stove in the kitchen, obviously useless in a blackout. A gas stove would have been very useful. Besides being able to maintain our kitchen we would be able to heat up that area of the house. Gas is not an option for many people but we already have it piped to the stove, and also have an overhead exhaust venting to the outside. This addition, though expensive, would have been a welcome appliance.
• Better lighting: I am unsure how to do this, but the elimination of candles would have been much safer. Some kind of battery-based lighting system in the kitchen and bathroom would be useful. I will need to think of possible options in the future.
• A neighbour in the cold and dark: I found one neighbour that I did not know very well who told me they had no heat nor any way to drink hot tea. Though they are quite close to me they were too proud to knock on our door. This I found out the day after the blackout, while I was clearing branches from the front of their house. In the future I will invite them over for some tea and warmth of our fire.

Overall our blackout experience was very positive and educational. The Little Weed says he welcomes the next one. Our family not only tolerated the inconvenience, but actually thrived. Our community was not hurt and our neighbours survived. What more can one ask?