Town of Banff

Stay Safe

•  if you are in a building, stay inside and away from windows, doors, fireplaces, radiators, stoves, metal pipes, sinks or other electrical charge conductors
•  unplug TVs, radios, toasters and other electrical appliances
• do not use the phone or other electrical equipment.
•  if you are outside, seek shelter in a building, cave or depressed area
•  if you are caught in the open, crouch down with your feet close together and your head down (in the "leap-frog" position): don't lie flat  - by minimizing your contact with the ground you reduce of the risk of being electrocuted by a ground charge
• keep away from telephone and power lines, fences, trees and hilltops
• get off bicycles, motorcycles and tractors
• if you are in a car, stop the car and stay in it... do not stop near trees or power lines that could fall

•  turn off basement furnaces and the outside gas valve
•  shut off the electricity: if the area around the fuse box or circuit breaker is wet, stand on a dry board and shut off the power with a dry wooden stick
•  never try to cross a flooded area on foot, the fast water could sweep you away
•  if you are in a car, try not to drive through flood waters... fast water could sweep your car away
•  if you are caught in fast rising waters and your car stalls, leave it and save yourself and your passengers

•  turn the thermostat(s) down to a minimum and turn off all appliances, electronic equipment and tools to prevent injury, damage to equipment and fire. Power can also be restored more easily when the system is not overloaded
• use proper candle holders, and never leave lit candles unattended

• if you are in a building, go to the basement immediately: if there isn't one, crouch or lie flat under heavy furniture in an inner hallway or small inner room or stairwell away from windows
• stay away from large halls, arenas, shopping malls, and so on as their roofs could collapse
• if you are outside and there is no shelter, lie down in a ditch or ravine, protecting your head
• if you are driving, get out of and away from the car... it could blow through the air or roll over on you: lie down as above