{"id":1760,"date":"2026-06-25T21:44:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-25T21:44:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/non-classe\/comment-preparer-sa-maison-en-cas-de-panne-de-courant\/"},"modified":"2026-06-30T20:26:23","modified_gmt":"2026-06-30T20:26:23","slug":"how-to-get-your-home-ready-for-a-power-outage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/blog\/home\/how-to-get-your-home-ready-for-a-power-outage\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get your home ready for a power outage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n    <section class=\"wysiwyg || section\">\n        \n<span class=\"absolute top-0 left-0\" ><\/span>        <div class=\"wrapper\">\n            <div class=\"max-w-[60rem] mx-auto\">\n                <div class=\"wysiwyg-container \">\n    <p>Ice storms, blizzards, torrential rain, high winds \u2014 they often bring power outages along for the ride. Here\u2019s how to be ready, whether the lights are out for an hour or a few days.<\/p>\n<h2>Before the outage<\/h2>\n<p>If you\u2019ve got backup heat that runs on a stove or fireplace, keep the chimney properly maintained. If it\u2019s a dual-fuel system, keep a supply of gas or oil on hand.<\/p>\n<p>A portable generator can also cover your needs during an outage. Pick one that can run the essentials \u2014 a space heater, the fridge. Set it up outside, away from windows, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.redcross.ca\/how-we-help\/emergencies-and-disasters-in-canada\/emergency-preparedness\/generator-safety\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">to avoid<\/a> carbon monoxide and fire risk. And check with your broker that your policy covers all this.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s also smart to put an emergency plan in writing. It\u2019ll tell you what to do when something goes wrong. Go through it with your family so you\u2019re ready together, and keep key documents \u2014 birth certificates, passports, wills, financial papers, insurance policies \u2014 in a waterproof container.<\/p>\n<p>The Government of Canada has an online tool to help you build your plan.<br \/>\nYou\u2019ll want basics on hand to get through an outage, so keep an emergency kit stocked and within easy reach.<\/p>\n<p>It should include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Non-perishable food \u2014 canned goods, granola bars, dehydrated meals \u2014 plus water in easy-to-carry bottles.<\/li>\n<li>A manual can opener.<\/li>\n<li>A hand-crank or battery-powered flashlight.<\/li>\n<li>A hand-crank or battery-powered radio.<\/li>\n<li>Spare batteries.<\/li>\n<li>A lighter or matches.<\/li>\n<li>Emergency candles.<\/li>\n<li>A portable charger for your devices.<\/li>\n<li>Warm blankets.<\/li>\n<li>A first-aid kit.<\/li>\n<li>Must-haves for your household \u2014 prescription medication, baby formula, anything needed for people with special needs.<\/li>\n<li>Spare car and house keys.<\/li>\n<li>Cash and change.<\/li>\n<li>A copy of your emergency plan and the numbers to call in an emergency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>During the outage<\/h2>\n<p>Check whether it\u2019s just you or the whole neighbourhood with Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/infopannes.solutions.hydroquebec.com\/info-pannes\/conditions-utilisation?redirect=%2Finfo-pannes%2Fpannes%2Fpannes-en-cours%3Flangue%3Dfr\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Info-Outages<\/a> tool (if you\u2019ve got cell service). It\u2019ll also estimate how long the outage might last.<\/p>\n<p>Unplug your appliances to guard against a power surge. Run any space heater or generator exactly as the manufacturer directs. If you\u2019re using a fuel-burning heater (wood, oil or gas), make sure your smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are working.<\/p>\n<p>Keep the fridge and freezer closed as much as you can to hold the cold.<\/p>\n<p>And never cook with propane appliances indoors \u2014 barbecues and camp stoves are for outside, always.<\/p>\n<p>If you have to leave, <a href=\"https:\/\/pannes.hydroquebec.com\/poweroutages\/be-prepared-for-power-outage\/during-an-outage.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Hydro-Qu\u00e9bec<\/a> recommends shutting off the main water supply. Unplug your electronics and make sure fireplaces, stoves and ranges are off.<\/p>\n<p>If it\u2019s winter and you\u2019re heading out, switch off the water heater breaker. Close the main shut-off valve and drain the hot and cold water lines throughout the house, including the washing machine and dishwasher.<\/p>\n<h2>After the outage<\/h2>\n<p>If you had to leave, wait for the authorities\u2019 go-ahead before heading back. Then check for damage: water in through the roof, a flooded basement, broken branches.<\/p>\n<p>If the power was out for a while, go through the fridge and freezer. Toss perishables from the fridge after six hours without power; frozen food stays safe for about 24 hours. The Quebec government website has the details.<\/p>\n<p>After an outage that ran several hours or days, call your broker to ask about filing a claim \u2014 some damage, like spoiled food, may be covered. One tip: photograph the contents of your fridge and freezer before you throw anything out, so you\u2019ve got proof for your claim.<\/p>\n<p>You can also file right from the Intact Insurance app \u2014 just a few taps.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>Better safe than sorry<\/strong><br \/>\nThere\u2019s no telling how much damage rough weather can do. Being ready for an outage keeps the surprises to a minimum \u2014 and it\u2019s exactly why a valid home insurance policy matters so much.<\/p>\n<p>Questions about your coverage, or need to file a claim? Your broker is just a call away \u2014 we\u2019re here whenever you need us.<\/p>\n<\/div>                            <\/div>\n    <\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1761,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"wds_primary_category":23,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"class_list":["post-1760","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-home"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1760"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1760\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1761"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1760"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.univesta.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1760"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}