Blackout aka darkTO

Around 10 p.m. on Thursday January 15, 2009, the Dufferin Power Station, just north of Dufferin Station was flooded and power was lost to approximately 100,000 people.

The power outage is affecting an area roughly from Bathurst Street to Jane Street and Dupont Street south to Queen Street West.

Links: Live Blogging etc

Torontoist is live blogging the power outage. BlogTO and PostedToronto have ongoing coverages via the comments to their original posts announcing last night's blackout:

TTC Service: Bloor-Danforth Subway Line

Last night subway service between St. George Station and Jane Station was closed down. 40 buses were running shuttle service between these two stations. Since last night the number of closed stations making up gap in the Bloor Danforth subway line has been reducing as power is restored incrementally to affected neighbourhoods.

City of Toronto Response:

Toronto Hydro has announced that power is being restored to the remaining areas affected by the power outage.

January 16, 2009 - updated 9:40 p.m.

Toronto Hydro has announced that power is being restored to the remaining areas affected by the power outage.

Reception centres to stay open until midnight - 1 new centre open for residents needing overnight shelter

To assist residents whose homes may be too cold to go to immediately the City will keep its 7 reception centres open until midnight to allow people to return to their homes safely.

In addition, the City of Toronto has opened a centre where residents can stay overnight if their homes are too cold to stay in tonight. The centre is located at: Parkdale Collegiate Institute, 209 Jameson Avenue, Parkdale.

January 16, 2009 – updated 4:49 p.m.

Water pipes - city residents should open a tap in their home at the lowest point in their home. Residents can also open a tap at the highest point in their home as well. Residents should not turn off the water to their homes. Water should be kept on to keep the pipes from freezing. Only a very small flow of water is necessary to keep the water moving.

Food will keep in the freezer for 24 to 48 hours if the freezer remains closed. Food in the fridge will keep for 12 to 24 hours if the fridge is kept closed. However, if in doubt, throw it out.

All Toronto Public Library branches are open today with the following exceptions:

Library branches that have re-opened:

Closed Library

Care should be taken with lit candles:

  • Always stay in the room where candles are being used.
  • Extinguish all candles when leaving the room or when going to sleep.
  • Ensure candles are not used in any bedrooms.
  • Keep lit candles well away from anything that can burn.
  • Keep candles, matches and lighters out of the reach of children and pets.
  • Use sturdy candle holders that won’t tip or burn. Those with glass shades or chimneys are safer.
  • Extinguish candles when they burn to within five centimetres (two inches) of their holder.
  • Make sure that you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home
  • Plan and practise a home escape plan in the event of fire

See full City of Toronto news release Here

January 16, 2009 – updated 2:39 p.m.

The City of Toronto continues to respond to the power outage and support those affected by the outage.

Toronto Hydro has confirmed that power has been restored to approximately 11,000 customers. Work continues and updates will be issued as hydro is restored. There is no exact time known when power will be restored. Please listen to news reports for more information.

If you are elderly or disabled and have lost your power and require transportation to a reception centre please call 416-392-9391 and the staff from our Long Term Care facility will assist you.

If you have an elderly or disabled friend or relative in the area please visit or call them to see if they require assistance. If you are not able to visit or contact them and would like someone from the City to follow up, please call Access Toronto at 416 338 0338. Access Toronto will arrange for a visit from staff from Toronto Transportation, Solid Waste Management or Public Health who are working together to check on residents.

City of Toronto update: 10:03 a.m.

The City of Toronto is responding to a power outage in the west end of Toronto that started late last night.

The initial boundaries of the outage were St. Clair Avenue to Queen Street, Jane Street to Spadina Avenue.

Power has since been restored to: - the north and south sides of Bloor Street, west of Jane to east of Dufferin - north of Leeds Street - south of Colbourg Street - west to Margueretta Street - East to Jersey Ave.

Warming Centres

City Run Reception centres for people to keep warm are at:

  • Metro Hall, 55 John St.
  • York Civic Centre, 2700 Eglinton Ave. W.
  • JJ Piccininni Community Centre, 1369 St. Clair Ave. W.
  • Castlelview Wychwood Long-Term Care, 351 Christie St.
  • Memorial Community Centre, 44 Montgomery Rd.
  • Harrison Pool, 15 Stephanie St.
  • Trinity Community Recreation Centre, 15 Crawford St.
  • Dufferin Mall said it is open and heated, although many businesses remain without electricity.

Pets

  • The Toronto Humane Society at 11 River St. is offering temporary shelter for people's pets. Call 416-392-2273, ext. 2149.

Schools Closed

The following schools in the power outage area are closed for today.

Toronto District School Board

Alexander Muir/Gladstone Ave J&S PS Annette Street J&S PS (same complex as High Park Alt School JR) Bickford Centre (same complex as West End Alt SS) Bloor CI Brock JPS Brockton HS Central Technical School Dewson Street JPS Dovercourt JPS Fern Avenue PS Garden Avenue JPS Harbord CI Howard JPS Kent SPS (same complex as Alpha II Alt School) Montrose PS Oakwood CI Old Orchard JPS Ossington/Old Orchard JPS Palmerston Avenue PS Pauline PS (complex shared with St Sebastian Catholic Sch) Perth Avenue PS (complex shared with St Luigi Catholic Sch) Regal Road JPS Shirley Street School (same complex as City View Alt School SR) West Toronto CI

Transportation will also be cancelled for all these schools.

Toronto Catholic District School Board

Bishop Allen - St. Peter Campus/Markham Bishop Marrocco/Thomas Merton Msgr Fraser Shaw Campus Holy Family James Culnan Link Program - Park Place Loretto College TCDSB Orientation Centre Pope Paul VI St. Bruno St. Cecilia St. Francis of Assisi St. Helen St. Anthony St. Josaphat St. Luigi St. Luke St. Mary - Portugal Square St. Mary C.S.S. St. Mary of the Angels St. Pius St. Raymond St. Rita St. Vincent De Paul St.Sebastian Senhor Santo Cristo

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