Prepare for a blizzard
Canada averages 3-5 major blizzards each winter. Snowmageddon (Toronto 1999) brought the army into the city. White Juan (Halifax 2004) dropped 95 cm in 24 h, paralysing the Maritimes for a week. The 2022 Ontario Christmas blizzard stranded thousands and killed 19. Newfoundland's 2020 Snowmageddon set a 76.2 cm 24-h record. Even in southern Ontario, blizzards trap people inside for 24-72 h.
Households that handled the worst blizzards had three things: enough indoor food and water for at least 3 days without going out, an emergency car kit (warm clothes, water, food, shovel) in every family vehicle, and a working CO detector for backup heating. Environment Canada recommends staying home during blizzard warnings — Highway 401 closures and 'Park & Stranded' rescues are the most common cause of cold injuries.
How to prepare for a blizzard
Indoor stockpile: 72-hour minimum, 7-day realistic. Water (4 L/person/day), non-perishable food that doesn't need cooking, medications, infant supplies, pet food. Fully charge devices and powerbanks when blizzard warning issued.
Vehicle emergency kit: winter sleeping bag or emergency blanket per person, shovel, sand or kitty litter (traction), tow strap, candles + matches in a metal can, water and high-calorie snacks, full tank of fuel. If stranded — stay in vehicle, run engine 10 min per hour with window cracked (CO risk), make car visible with lights or coloured cloth on antenna.
Heating safety: if power fails, propane or kerosene heater with CO detector is the only safe indoor option. NEVER bring BBQ or generator indoors. Watch elderly relatives and people in poorly insulated apartments — Public Health Ontario reports most hypothermia deaths happen indoors during prolonged blackouts.