Thousands wake up without power after storms hit eastern Ontario

More than 32,000 Hydro One customers woke up without power Wednesday morning, with several outages reported across the region. As of 8 a.m., the utility had not provided estimated restoration times for many affected areas, saying crews first need to assess the damage before timelines can be confirmed.

Hydro One says customers should be prepared for the possibility of extended outages, especially with more thunderstorms expected to continue into Wednesday afternoon.

Residents are encouraged to restock emergency kits with water, non-perishable food, cash, flashlights, batteries, medication and other essentials. Hydro One also recommends downloading its app or checking its online outage map for the latest updates.

Safety remains a major concern. Anyone who sees a downed power line should stay at least 10 metres away and report it immediately.

Hydro One is also reminding anyone using a generator to keep it outside and away from windows, doors and vents to prevent carbon monoxide from entering the home.

Customers can track outages through the free Hydro One app or on the Storm Centre map online. You can also sign up for text or email alerts here. 

Don’t have the Hydro One app? 

Android users tap click here to get it from the Play Store. 

Apple users tap here to get it from the App Store.