IceStorm 98 Study

Conclusion

Ice Storm ’98 was a particularly difficult emergency to respond to. The geographic extent and the length of the electrical power outage caused by the storm were unprecedented. Such a large power failure had been neither contemplated nor planned for.

That the response was as successful as it was, with few deaths and injuries, is a testament to the strength of local communities and the commitment of governments to emergency planning and training. Future emergency response can be improved however, by learning from past experiences. The ice storm taught new lessons and reinforced old ones.

The ice storm showed how dependent Canadian society is on a reliable, continuous source of electrical power and how much more vulnerable we have become to power outages. Assessing the emergency situation was especially difficult, due not only to the size of the area affected, but more importantly to the fact so many communications systems were not operating. Building effective communications systems that do not rely on electricity is crucial for responding to power failures.

Greater numbers of critical facilities need back-up power and households should install alternate heating systems. Keeping the public informed is critical in emergency situations. Communications plans should be a part of emergency planning not only for governments and emergency responders but also for industries, businesses, and institutions.

If the situation during the ice storm had changed, what was a major convenience could have turned into a major disaster. Examining the probable consequences of the “what-ifs”, could help us be even better prepared for the next big emergency.