14.29°C Vancouver

Nov 13, 2020 6:29 PM -

BC Hydro warns toilet paper stockpiles won't help when storms cut power

Share On

BC Hydro says an online survey shows many households are stocked up but unprepared to ride out a major winter storm.

It found 20 per cent of homeowners believe they are prepared for an extended power outage because they laid in supplies such as toilet paper, hand sanitizer and groceries.

But the utility points out that stockpiling toilet paper won't help when storms cut power and leave people without heat, light or the ability to cook food and keep it from rotting for several days.

But the online survey of 803 B.C. residents conducted in early October says more than half lack an emergency kit or a plan, meaning households are ``stocked up, but unprepared'' to ride out a major storm.

Latest news

24-year-old-surrey-man-killed-in-coquihalla-highway-crash-three-others-seriously-injured
BCOct 19, 2026

24-Year-Old Surrey Man Killed in Coquihalla Highway Crash, Three Others Seriously Injured

A 24-year-old man from Surrey has been killed in a head-on collision between a Toyota Tacoma and a Toyota RAV4 on the Coquihalla Highway near Merritt, B.C., on Saturday morning. According to B.C. Highway Patrol, police received multiple reports of a vehicle travelling in the wrong direction on the highway. Officers were on their way to intercept the vehicle when the collision occurred near the Helmer exit. One of the four Surrey men travelling in the RAV4 died at the scene. The other three men, aged between 24 and 38, suffered serious injuries and were taken to hospital, where they remain unde
canadas-inflation-rises-to-3-1-raising-prospects-of-interest-rate-hike-by-year-end
CanadaOct 19, 2026

Canada’s Inflation Rises to 3.1%, Raising Prospects of Interest Rate Hike by Year-End

Economists believe the Bank of Canada could raise interest rates by the end of 2026 following the release of the country’s September inflation figures. According to Statistics Canada, the annual inflation rate climbed to 3.1 per cent, driven by higher oil and gas prices, moving above the Bank of Canada’s target range of 1 to 3 per cent. However, underlying inflation has eased, offering some relief to the central bank. Ongoing trade tensions with the United States and the crisis in the Middle East could put further upward pressure on inflation. According to KPMG Canada, the Bank of Canada i
13-injured-in-multi-vehicle-crash-involving-semi-truck-and-double-decker-bus-in-surrey
BCOct 19, 2026

13 Injured in Multi-Vehicle Crash Involving Semi-Truck and Double-Decker Bus in Surrey

Thirteen people were injured in a multi-vehicle crash involving a semi-truck, a double-decker bus and several other vehicles on Highway 99 in Surrey on Friday evening. According to the Surrey Police Service, the collision occurred around 4:30 p.m. near the Highway 99 and Highway 91 interchange. A semi-truck first struck three cars travelling in the same direction before losing control, crossing the median and colliding with an oncoming double-decker bus and another car. Approximately 50 to 60 people were aboard the bus at the time of the crash. According to B.C. Emergency Health Services, two
BCOct 19, 2026

Eby Urges Green Party Voters to Back NDP as Emily Lowan Fires Back Ahead of B.C. Election

Political activity has intensified in the final week of British Columbia’s provincial election campaign, with NDP Leader David Eby urging Green Party supporters to vote for the NDP, prompting a sharp response from Green Party Leader Emily Lowan. On Sunday, Eby appealed to Green voters not to waste their votes on the Green Party, arguing that Lowan is unlikely to become premier. He warned that votes for the Greens could split the vote and benefit the B.C. Conservatives. Responding to Eby’s remarks, Lowan accused him of calling the election two years ahead of schedule for political gain. She
suspect-arrested-in-2022-double-homicide-in-burnaby
BCOct 19, 2026

Suspect Arrested in 2022 Double Homicide in Burnaby

Police have arrested a 27-year-old suspect following a lengthy investigation into a double homicide in Burnaby three years ago. Investigators said Mohammad Arif Ansari was taken into custody on Friday. Two counts of second-degree murder and one count of indignity to human remains have been approved against him. Burnaby RCMP said the bodies of 31-year-old Keesha Gary and 30-year-old Umair Qasim were found inside a vehicle on Alpha Avenue on October 17, 2022. Police believe the killings were targeted and that the victims and the accused knew each other. The victims, who lived in Coquitlam, were

Related News