Hurricane #Dorian is hitting us this weekend, and we want to make you as prepared as possible!

(ongoing list of cancellations,etc found HERE)

Firstly, listen in to JACK 92.9 and NEWS 95.7 for any and all updates on the storm and its aftermath!

You can also get updates at @JACK929hfx Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, NEWS957.com and Halifaxtoday.ca

But, there are ways to PREPARE for the storm as well, make sure you’re household-ready!!

And, any and all updates on what you see out there – and tips for staying safe – let us know! Send them to @jack929hfx and @news957

Things to do:

  • STAY INSIDE! If you don’t have to be outside during a storm, then don’t! Avoid it – 100+ km winds aren’t exactly friendly. Especially to your poor umbrella
  • BRING. IN. YOUR. PATIO. FURNITURE. No one wants to see your lawn chairs flying across their deck, Karen …
  • Charge your phone!! Nothing worse than the power going out and you’re on 13 per cent …
  • Get cash. If the ATM goes down, you’ll want some cash on-hand
  • Gas up your car. You never know!
  • Fill up your generator (BUT DO NOT TURN IT ON INSIDE, NO, NO, NO, NO. BE SAFE!
  • Know where your first-aid kits are (or finally buy one …)
  • Unplug all major appliances if you can

Things to buy:

  • Flashlights (in case the power goes out). Contrary to every Rom-Com, don’t light a ton of candles
  • Non-perishables, and things you don’t have to cook or freeze. If the power goes out and your oven and fridge are as useless as a parka in summer, you’ll be glad you have finger-foods on hand!
  • bottles of water — or, for you environmentally-friendly folk, fill up your reusable water bottles!

 

CAA has also put together a list of tips for SAFE DRIVING in wet conditions!!

  • Turn off the cruise control. If your wheels start hydroplaning, your first reflex—and it’s the correct one—would normally be to take your foot off the gas. If the cruise control is on, however, it will detect a loss of power and attempt to compensate. The result will be a sudden acceleration, which is the last thing you want.
  • Lower the risk of hydroplaning. If there are noticeable ruts down the middle of the highway, shining in the rain, avoid driving in them, even if it means staying a little off-centre in your lane.
  • When driving in the city, danger lurks at intersections, where leaked vehicle fluids can practically turn the road surface into a skating rink. Be alert: when approaching a stop sign or red light, brake sooner and more gently than usual.
  • Your daytime running lights aren’t enough in the rain: depending on vehicle makes and models, the taillights don’t always come on at the same time. You should turn on your headlights to make sure you’ll be nicely visible to drivers both behind and in front of you—even in a driving rainstorm.
  • Make sure your windshield wipers are in good shape. CAA-Quebec recommends that you put new ones on after a year of use. Why? Because the rubber dries out, and instead of clearing your view out the windshield, the blades can skip or chatter, and leave annoying streaks. You don’t need that extra stress when driving in the rain. “Thirty dollars to make sure you can see properly isn’t a major investment!” Mr. Saint-Pierre says.
  • Steer clear of potholes. When they’re filled with water, it’s very hard to know how deep they are. If you can’t avoid running into a pothole, at least make sure you don’t brake when your wheels hit it.
  • Keep your distance. Respect the three-second rule with respect to the car ahead of you (pick a reference marker and when the other car passes it, you must be able to count “one thousand and one, one thousand and two, one thousand and three” before you pass the same marker). Are the conditions really bad? Keep counting: “one thousand and four, one thousand and five, one thousand and six.” In an emergency, you’ll have more time to react and perform an avoidance manoeuvre.
  • If it’s raining so hard that your vision is impaired to the point that driving becomes dangerous, choose a safe place to pull off the road. If you’re on the highway, try to get to the next rest area. Otherwise, park on the shoulder as far as possible from the roadway.
  • Make sure your tires are in good condition. A thorough inspection will reveal any cracks, foreign matter or unequal wear. Check the tire pressure every month, and keep your tires inflated according to the manufacturer’s recommendations. Remember: an under-inflated tire will wear out faster, increase your fuel consumption, and fail to channel away water properly.
  • If your winter tires have just completed their last cold season and you’re tempted to leave them on for the summer, our advice couldn’t be clearer: Don’t do it. CAA-Quebec has tested braking with winter tires (new ones, to boot!) in summer conditions, and the consequences are dramatic: stopping distances are up to one-third longer than with summer tires. “In warm weather, winter tires have nowhere near the same grip and stability as do tires designed for summer driving,” Mr. Saint-Pierre explains.