- Remove any spoiled, smelly food and clean your fridge and freezer before restocking with new groceries. Food stored in your freezer should stay frozen for 24 to 36 hours, provided the door was kept closed. If things are defrosting, they should be cooked and eaten immediately or thrown out. As a general fridge rule, if your power has been out for more than four hours, you should get rid of the perishable items. When in doubt, throw it out. Just because something appears OK, that doesn’t mean it’s bacteria-free. Things like juice, vegetables, condiments (without cream), and hard cheeses last longer than other perishable items.
- Remember: many cities, like Burnaby and Vancouver, have banned food scraps from regular garbage, so dispose of spoiled food properly, or better yet, compost the waste.
- Some traffic lights are still out, so follow the usual four-way-stop procedure. If you spot a tree blocking a road, driveway or sidewalk, call the city’s engineering department at 604-294-7200. They can send crews to clear the debris, but more urgent cases blocking traffic will get first priority.
- Create a kit for the next power outage. Include a battery-operated radio, a flashlight, some non-perishable food and water. Consider buying a solar powered charger for your phone, especially since Twitter was the main method of communication B.C. Hydro was using.
- Collect all the branches and storm debris. Smaller pieces can go in your green bin for yard waste, but branches thicker than four-inches in diameter can be piled on the curb for pickup.
- You can also drop off branches or any other green storm debris at Burnaby’s Eco-Centre, at 4855 Still Creek Dr. The city is offering unlimited free drop off until Sunday, Sept. 13, but you must bring some proof of Burnaby residence. Don’t bag or bundle green waste. The centre is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., every day of the week.
