Preparing for incidents and crises

During the winter, there may be a shortage of electricity in Finland. Possible power shortages are tried to be managed with power outages. The greatest risk for electricity shortages is in the morning and early evening, especially on cold winter days. The municipality of Hollola is also preparing for power outages.

Power outages can occur predictably with short notice or unexpectedly.

What will the municipality's services be affected by the anticipated power outage and how will Hollola municipality's services function in short power outage situations:

1. Hobby activities on the premises of the municipality 
   Hobby activities are interrupted during a power outage.
2. Schools
   Anticipated possible restrictions on electricity distribution apply to schools in Herrala, Nostava, Paimela and Pyhäniemi.
   The electricity companies have announced that the expected outages will be between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 15 p.m. to 18 p.m. Other school units are also prepared for interruptions in electricity distribution. Schools take care of teaching and safety even during a power outage. Teaching is organized in basic education as close-to-home teaching. The duration of the school day is according to the timetable, but within the day subject-specific changes may occur.
   • Eating
     If a power outage prevents the preparation of food, children and young people are offered a cold lunch and a snack. Allergies and special diets are taken into account.
   • Afternoon activity
     Afternoon activities for school children and morning and afternoon care for school children in special groups are organized as usual. Schoolchildren can bring a bottle of water with them if they wish.
   • School transportation
     School transport operates normally. For school trips, it is recommended to use a reflector and be equipped with e.g. a headlamp or hand lamp. Otherwise, you should also take into account warm clothing, because the temperature of the properties may drop if the interruption of the electricity supply is prolonged.
   • Contact person at schools
     Principals and vice-principals act as contact persons at schools in exceptional situations, who, if necessary, inform students and guardians about the situation and respond to inquiries.
3. Daycare 
   Anticipated possible restrictions on electricity distribution apply to the following kindergartens:
   Herrala, Kukkila, Nostava, Paimela (+ 2 x pph) and Pyhäniemi kindergarten (+ 1 x pph).
   The electricity companies have announced that the expected outages will be between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m. and 15 p.m. to 18 p.m. Other units are also prepared for interruptions in electricity distribution.
   Early childhood education services are normally organized even during a short power outage. The staff already plans activities for these situations.
   • Eating 
     If a power outage prevents the preparation of food, children are offered a cold breakfast, lunch and snack. Allergies and special diets are taken into account.
   • Lighting and dressing
     Provisions have been made for adequate and safe lighting, but since the situation is nevertheless exceptional, in the absence of normal lighting, it is good to discuss possible power outages with the children in kindergartens according to their age level. It's good to talk about it at home as well. Dressing warmly should be taken into account in both indoor and outdoor clothing, because the temperature of buildings can drop if the electricity supply is interrupted for a long time.
   • Contact persons in kindergartens and preschool education
     In kindergartens and early childhood education, the immediate supervisors of the units act as contact persons, who, if necessary, inform the guardians about the situation and respond to inquiries.

How does a predicted power outage affect?

During a power cut, many things deviate from normal, for example:

• The lights don't come on, and the appliances don't work.
• The television and radio do not work.
• The water supply may be disturbed. It is recommended to avoid flushing the toilet during a power outage.
• The buildings' electric heating does not work.
• The elevator doesn't work.
• You cannot pay with cards. Shops and banks may close their doors.
• You can't get fuel from gas stations.
• Buses may be late.
• Electronic devices such as computers or phones cannot be charged.
• Internet and phones work for a while.
• Mobile phone calls and text messages work normally.
• With regard to mobile phone data and mobile data, the connection is weakened or completely interrupted (4G, 5G, etc.).

You can prepare yourself for possible power outages, for example by reserving drinking water and food.

Water, toilet and sewer

The water supply stops during a power outage, either immediately or in the next few hours. The water is safe to drink as long as it comes from the tap. However, pressure fluctuations can dislodge sediment from the pipes, which makes the water cloudy.

If there is water, use it only for what is necessary. If the outage lasts more than an hour, reserve drinking water in a clean container with a lid. If the outage is prolonged, the authorities will start distributing water. Keep bottled water or ready-to-drink juice at home.

The toilet can only be flushed once if the water supply has stopped. The use of water that goes down the drain should be avoided in order to prevent sewer overflows into the environment and sewer flooding on properties.

Excrement must not be placed in biowaste, even in a biowaste bag. Keep wet wipes and disinfecting gel handy.

See also Preparedness and disruptions in water supply

Shops and gas stations

Most of the shops close after the power outage starts. Money transfer will also become difficult immediately.

As a rule, you can't pay with bank and credit cards, because their payment terminals work with mains power. If there is spare power in the store, card payment is possible. During a power outage, you can pay in cash. However, cash cannot be withdrawn from anywhere.

You can't buy fuel at gas stations during the outage, because, among other things, gas meters and pumps and payment terminals use electricity. Keep fuel in the tank at least a quarter of its volume so you can get going before the exhaust.

Transport

Traffic lights, street lights and intersection lights stop working during the outage. Especially in urban areas, traffic becomes congested when the traffic lights do not work and there are more cars than usual.

Public transport is quickly disrupted, especially in the capital region, if the electricity goes out. Commuter trains, subways and trams run on electricity, and they stop immediately when there is an outage.

Most long-distance passenger trains also run on electric tracks. Outages slow down trains and can eventually stop traffic even outside the blackout area.

Mobile

Mobile phone traffic works as a rule, but interruptions can occur when there is no longer enough power for mobile phone base stations. There are fewer base stations in rural areas, and muting the base station cuts off connections from callers using it.

Get a spare battery for your mobile phone and charge it regularly. Get a car charger, battery charger, fuel cell charger or solar cell charger. They can be used to charge a mobile phone battery without electricity.

Avoid unnecessary calls during the outage. That way, the networks remain uncongested and, for example, emergency calls get through quickly.

Heating

Already at the construction stage of the house, think about how you will secure the heating during a power outage. Fireplaces and other hearths are good sources of backup heat. There are also gas heaters on the market. The oil boiler also works during a power outage, if you ensure the power supply with an aggregate.

During the outage, close the windows and keep the front door closed. Prevent ventilation. Support fresh air valves. They are wall round valves and window frame valves. Warm up the fireplace. At least part of the apartment stays warm this way.

If the temperature in the home drops below fifteen degrees, try to keep one room of the apartment warm. Close the doors of outer rooms and corner rooms and block the entry of cold air with carpets or towels. Cover the windows with curtains or blankets. Bring more rugs to the floor. Put on warm, breathable and preferably woolen clothes.

Move the beds to the warmest room in the apartment. You focus well in a good sleeping bag. Sleep side by side with family members under shared blankets. You will stay warm better if you make a tent around the table and sleep there.

Cooking

Keep a small stock of foods that keep well at home. These include, for example, canned food, baby food, pretzels, cookies and juices. Shock-heated milk (UHT) can be stored at room temperature for months.

You can cook without electricity on a gas stove or a wood stove. You can also use the camping stove on a non-flammable base. If you have a yard with a grill, you can prepare a warm meal there.

Be careful when grilling or using a camping stove. Use as little flammable liquid as possible and do not leave a hot grill or kettle unattended. Keep a fire extinguisher nearby.

If the power outage is prolonged, it is good to eat the food and drinks stored in the refrigerator first. Start with fish and shellfish, which require the coldest storage temperature. Then continue to meats, sausages, ready meals and dairy products.

In winter, food is better stored outside in a cooler or in a box lined with newspapers. The best temperature is between zero and six degrees. If food freezes outside, it must be used immediately after thawing.

Information and help

The radio can transmit information and instructions from the authorities even during a power outage. You can listen to the broadcast from battery radio, car radio. The radio can also be heard on many mobile phones and portable music devices.

Yleisradio has an obligation to broadcast the program in all circumstances. It conveys information from the authorities and reports on the matter. Local radio stations also provide information about outages.

If you have access to the internet, see if there is information about the outage on the electricity company's website. Call 911 only if you need urgent help. Unnecessary calls slow down or even prevent real emergency calls from getting through.

If you are elderly or disabled, it is not safe for you to go out on your own. Ask a neighbor for help.

If you are waiting for a social service visit, be prepared for a delay. The number of people needing help may have increased and the operation of the home service may have become more difficult.

If you belong to a volunteer organization, your help may be needed now.

See also the instructions of the Ministry of Defence: How to prepare for long power outages (pdf)

Population shelters are most abundant in city centers, where residential buildings and workplace buildings, as well as other public buildings, such as shopping centers, schools, kindergartens and multipurpose buildings are concentrated.

Population shelters protect e.g. from explosion and shrapnel effects, building collapses, pressure waves and radiation and substances hazardous to health. The so-called splinter shelters located in the oldest buildings do not necessarily have functioning ventilation equipment, but the shelters are suitable for short-term protection.

The owner of the building is always responsible for the maintenance of the shelter

The owner of the building must ensure that the civil shelter is tested for tightness every 10 years and that the civil shelter is inspected annually. The annual inspection ensures that machines, devices and equipment are in working order and maintained in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.

Using population shelters

The introduction of population shelters takes place under national guidance and the introduction is announced as an official order, after which there is 72 hours to put the population shelter in working order. The rescue authority always instructs the residents of the area in protection and evacuation situations. Population shelters are primarily intended for temporary and short-term protection from armed influences.

The owner of the building must ensure that the civil protection can be put into working condition if necessary. Usually, this is taken care of by a person living or working in the building, who has been appointed and trained by the owner of the building as a civil protection nurse. There are instructions in the population shelter for putting the population shelter in working order.

There are enough shelters in the urban area. Fewer population shelters have been built in areas of small houses and rural areas. In exceptional circumstances, the authorities' additional powers make it possible to assign civil shelters in buildings to people in the surrounding areas whose houses do not have their own civil shelter. Depending on the situation, it is also possible to designate shelters other than actual population shelters as shelters. In Lahti, there are general population shelters in the Päijät-Häme area, where there are no predefined locations. These protections are available to everyone within the capacity of the premises and are intended for e.g. for the mobile population.

Watch Uusimaa Rescue Association's videos on YouTube:

Introduction of population protection

Population shelters and annual maintenance

Population shelters and tightness test

Radiation danger situation

In the event of a radiation hazard, there is no need to move to population shelters, but normal indoor spaces provide sufficient protection. The authorities instruct citizens: follow reliable media on radio, television and the internet.

Serious radiation hazard

The probability of a serious radiation hazard situation is low in Finland. Since the risk of an accident still exists, preparations have been made for it. The radiation situation is constantly monitored throughout the country, and even small changes are reported immediately.

People are informed about the radiation hazard situation and operating instructions without delay via television and radio.

Follow the instructions of the Radiation Protection Agency

One of the most important things in preparing for disruptions in society, long power outages, water supply disruptions or payment traffic disruptions, is keeping sufficient home reserves.

Home stock

It is good to always have three days' worth of food, drink, containers with lids for storing water, medicines, cash and other things necessary for your everyday life as home supplies. You should also be prepared with, for example, a battery-powered radio. Home equity is also used when moving to a shelter, as residents must bring e.g. own foods.

Preparedness 72 hours

Rescue operation

First aid skills

Do you know how to revive or help in an accident? 

The Finnish Red Cross organizes trainings.

First aid skills Finnish Red Cross

Groundwater protection

Look closely there in the groundwater areas brochures

Securing groundwater

Information about natural waters