British Columbia outage prep for wildfire evacuations, coastal windstorms and heavy snow, with BC Hydro reporting and EmergencyInfoBC tools.
- Check BC Hydro's outage updates first, then report at 1 888 POWERON if your outage is not listed.
- Use EmergencyInfoBC and EmergencyMapBC for wildfire and evacuation status.
- Stay 10 metres (33 feet) from downed lines and never run fuel burning devices indoors.
British Columbia's outages tend to come from two directions. On the coast and in the south, fall and winter windstorms topple trees onto lines. In the Interior and the north, wildfire season can cut power and force evacuations, and heavy snow or cold snaps add their own risks. The province also sits in an earthquake zone, which is another reason to keep basic supplies.
Here are the official tools worth setting up now and a plan that works whether you are sheltering at home or leaving in a hurry.
Official tools to bookmark
- BC Hydro outage map and list. Check the outage updates page first. If your outage is not listed, report it at 1 888 POWERON (1 888 769 3766) or through the online form.
- EmergencyInfoBC. The provincial site lists current emergencies, evacuation notices, and links to EmergencyMapBC, where you can check whether an address is under an evacuation order or alert.
- PreparedBC. The province's emergency preparedness education program, with guides for households.
- Alert Ready. Canada's national alerting system sends urgent alerts to TV, radio and compatible phones. Turn on emergency alerts in your phone settings.
Our alerts and outage reporting guide shows how to combine these with a battery radio.
Windstorms and downed lines
Strong winds can cause outages that last hours or days, especially in treed neighbourhoods and on islands and rural roads where repairs take time. BC Hydro advises staying at least 10 metres (33 feet) from fallen lines and assuming they are live. That means no touching wires, fences or puddles near them, and no driving over a downed line.
- Unplug sensitive electronics, or use surge protection, to avoid damage when power returns. See how to protect appliances.
- Keep flashlights and headlamps in a fixed place. See headlamps and lanterns.
- Never run a generator, barbecue or camping stove indoors or in an attached garage. BC Hydro repeats this warning because carbon monoxide kills.
Wildfire season
Wildfires can threaten homes with very little notice, and smoke can make air unhealthy over a large area even without flames nearby. If an evacuation alert or order is issued, follow it, leave early and take your medications, documents and pets. Keep your vehicle fuel tank at least half full during fire season, because pumps may not work if power is out.
Prepare a go-bag with ID, medications, chargers, a first aid kit and cash, and agree on a meeting place and an out-of-area contact. The BC government's emergency site also suggests checking insurance and registering with Emergency Support Services when you are evacuated. Read wildfire smoke and evacuation during an outage for air quality tips and power planning.
Snow, cold and earthquakes
Heavy wet snow can bring down branches and lines. In mountain and Interior areas, roads can close and make restoration slower. Keep a warm room plan and winter gear, and see how to stay warm without power. In an earthquake, practise Drop, Cover and Hold On and know where your gas shut-off is. After shaking, have a qualified contractor check electrical and gas systems before you rely on them.
Home supplies
Plan for at least 72 hours, and consider a week if you live in a remote area or on an island where help may be slow to arrive.
- Water: about 4 litres (1 gallon) per person per day. See how much water to store.
- Food that needs no cooking, plus a manual can opener.
- Radio, headlamps, spare batteries and a charged power bank or battery station.
- Medications, glasses, copies of documents and cash in small bills.
- Pet food and carriers.
Build a family kit with our 72-hour kit guide, then find backup power options on the power station hub.
Remote and island households
If you live on an island, up a long valley or on a road that can be blocked by a slide, snow or fire, plan for longer than a standard 72 hours. Store extra water and shelf-stable food, keep fuel for a vehicle you can reach safely, and think about how you would communicate if cell service drops. A battery or hand-crank radio, a paper map and a written list of contacts cost very little. Tell a friend or relative outside your area what your plan is, and check in with them as soon as you can after a storm so they are not left worrying.
Quick answers
How do I report a BC Hydro outage?
Check the outage updates page first. If it is not listed, report it at 1 888 POWERON (1 888 769 3766) or online.
Where do I check evacuation orders in BC?
EmergencyInfoBC lists current emergencies and links to EmergencyMapBC, which lets you check whether an address is under an order or alert.