Hurricane Teddy Expected to hit Nova Scotia this Tuesday

As if 2020 didn't already bring enough storm in our lives, we're expecting to see another hurricane early this week (not a metaphor this time).

Image Source- Jay Scotland (twitter)

Hurricane Teddy is expected to hit eastern Nova Scotia and central Newfoundland around Tuesday afternoon and will put these areas at high risk of power outages. It is expected that along with high speed winds (going up to 100kph) and large waves, this moisture filled storm will also bring rain of upto 100mm in these areas. Hurricane Teddy is also expected to have an impact on portions of the Leeward Islands, the Greater Antilles, the Bahamas, Bermuda and the east coast of the United States.

In a press release, Matt Drover, Nova Scotia Power’s storm lead, said that the province has already begun taking precautions for the hurricane and is opening the province's Emergency Operations Centre in advance.

Here are some of the precautions you should take if you are in any of the regions expected to be hit by the hurricane-

✔ Keep a safety kit. Find the recommended Red Cross safety kit check list here. It's always a good idea to ensure that you have supplies for at least 72 hours when expecting a storm.

✔ Steer clear of all electrical cables as these can get charged up and can potentially cause electric shock. Click here to find Nova Scotia Power's storm guidelines.

✔ Ensure that your power generator is safe. Follow this guide. Also, don't attempt to access your electrical panel if there is water around.

✔ Avoid parking vehicles near trees

✔ Ensure that your pets are inside.

✔ Keep monitoring storm updates. You can do so by clicking on this link.

Grocery stores may have particularly longer line ups as stores would also need to follow covid-19 restrictions pertaining to social distancing and maximum number of people in an enclosed space. While it is definitely recommended to stock up, one should avoid hoarding as this may result in others not getting access to supplies as stores may not be able to keep up with increasing demand on this short a notice.

University students and those working from home should also keep in mind that power outages would mean no Wi-Fi and may therefore disrupt class and work schedules. Students who have live class sessions and are residing in hurricane prone areas should consider requesting their professors to record their lectures in advance.