Hurricanes in Canada: What you can do

When a hurricane looms on the horizon, staying informed can make a world of difference. Hurricane alerts are designed to keep you informed about any potential hurricane threats.

Official hurricane alerts fall into two categories: hurricane watches and hurricane warnings.³ Here's what these alerts mean:

• Hurricane watch: Hurricane conditions are possible within the next 36 hours in your area, so you should be prepared and on the alert.
• Hurricane warning: A hurricane is likely to hit over the next 24 hours, so it's time to finalize your preparations and brace for impact.

You can monitor hurricane alerts through: 

• The Canadian Hurricane Centre’s Hurricane Track
• Environment Canada’s weather alerts page
• TV or radio
• The WeatherCAN app

If you're a TD Insurance customer, you can also sign up for Severe Weather and Safety Alerts on your TD Insurance App to get alerts directly on your phone. 

When there's a hurricane on the horizon, last-minute preparations can make a huge difference. Here's what you can do in the hours leading up to the storm:

• Pay attention to local weather reports and alerts.  If a hurricane watch becomes a warning, a hurricane can be expected within 24 hours, and you'll need to take shelter or evacuate your home.
• Secure windows, doors, and vents.  Secure double doors with a heavy-duty bolt or with slide bolts at the top and bottom. Seal attic vents before a storm to close off entry points where water can get in. 
• Protect your car. Park your car in a garage if possible, to protect it from high winds, flying debris, and flood waters. If you don’t have a garage, try to park away from trees or power lines, and keep your car close to a building for partial protection from the wind.
• Prepare your car. Before the storm hits, fill your gas tank so that you’ll be ready to leave quickly if necessary. Make sure you have copies of your car insurance and registration documents in a waterproof container. It’s also a good idea to take pictures of your car before a storm, to help facilitate the claims process if you need to make an insurance claim after the storm.
• Tidy your yard and put away loose items. Check your yard for fallen tree branches and other items that might be vulnerable to high winds. This includes heavy items like barbecues and patio furniture, which should be stored away or secured, as they can take flight in heavy winds.
• Safeguard important information. Store your cash and credit cards, along with your household’s important documents (insurance policies, medical information, identification, and contact information, for example) in a waterproof container.

When a hurricane is in full force outside your doors, here's what you and your family can do to stay safe while you ride out the storm:

• Stay indoors. Keep everyone inside and away from windows and glass doors. Close all curtains and blinds.
• Keep doors closed. Close all interior doors and make sure outside doors are secured and braced.
• Don’t be fooled by a lull in the storm. If you’re in the eye of the hurricane, the winds will pick up again.
• Stay on the lowest level. Gather everyone in your household in a small interior room, closet, or hallway, or have everyone lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
• Stay alert. Keep listening to the radio, TV, or trusted social media sites for information.
• Shut off propane and limit landline use. Turn off any propane tanks and avoid using your landline if it’s not an emergency.
• Prepare your fridge. Turn your fridge to its coldest setting and open its doors as infrequently as possible, to help safeguard your food if you lose power.
• Fill your bathtub with water. You might need it for drinking, for personal hygiene, and for flushing toilets.