Wind Events

At Mazinaw, on May 21, 2022 a Derecho wind event quickly came through our area, packing high winds which were strong enough to level parts of our forest around the lake and causing havoc for many properties. Reports were made that the winds were up to 190 km/hr.! It left behind it a path of destruction and a power outage that lasted for weeks. Helicopters could be seen making many trips with dangling poles and transformers as Hydro worked tirelessly to get us back up and running. 

Photo Credit: Lisa Johnson

When emergencies happen, having a plan in place is the best way to respond quickly and protect your family, and your property. An excellent resource for this can be found at www.getprepared.gc.ca

Thunderstorms are quite common and are often accompanied by high winds, hail, lightening and in some rare cases, can produce tornadoes.  Usually you will have some warning. It's a good idea to unplug televisions and appliances (especially those that may start up automatically when the power is restored).   Having a power surge bar (see below) can save your appliances. Consider covering your boat if you have time. If you have a back up generator, get things ready just in case. If there is lightening or hail, stay indoors and keep yourself and your pets away from windows and glass doors. 

If the weather network has warned of a potential tornado, of course the obvious choice would be to go to the basement however many cottages do not have one!  Consider taking shelter in a small interior room such as a bathroom, closet or hallway. If not possible protect yourself by taking shelter under a heavy table or desk.

If you are caught outside, especially on the water, and you can see lightning or hear thunder, get to the nearest shore and if possible, seek shelter immediately in or under an enclosed building.  Don't try to make it back to your cottage.  If you can, message your loved ones that you are sheltering in place. 

If caught far from a safe location, stay away from tall objects, such as trees, poles, wires and fences. Take shelter in a low lying area. 

Power Surge Protection

Power surges can damage your cottage’s appliances and electronics.  Here are a few things to consider to Protect Your Cottage (Source Hydro One)

• LIMIT THE NUMBER OF DEVICES CONNECTED TO A SINGLE OUTLET. Avoid overloading electrical outlets, especially in older homes. Only one major appliance should be plugged into an outlet.

• USE A SURGE PROTECTOR. Plug sensitive or valuable electronics such as HDTVs and computers into a surge protector. The MPOA do not endorse any specific make or model but we encourage you to do your own research and consider protecting your cottage from power surges.

• In the case of a thunderstorm and when you will be away for an extended period of time, UNPLUG ANY EQUIPMENT or APPLIANCES. Even turned off, electronics are still vulnerable to power surges if they're plugged in. Unplugging offers the best protection. You may want to shut off your electricity completely. This is done by throwing the main switch at the fuse box (be sure to turn off all major appliances before you turn off the main switch).

For your information there was a great article in Cottage Life magazine about our Derecho.