“This Is (Not) an Emergency!” A Guide to Crisis Calls, Calm Heads & Clear Pipes
Behind every door, there's a story... and a to-do list.
TENANT TIPSMANAGER'S CORNERBLOG
7/7/20253 min read
Emergencies don’t make appointments — they just crash the party. Whether you're a tenant staring at a kitchen sink that burps like a dragon, or a building manager answering a 2 AM call about a flickering hallway light, this guide is here to help us all separate emergencies from minor inconveniences wearing drama costumes.
So grab a coffee (or mop), and let’s break it down:
🚨 What Is an Emergency?
Let’s set the stage: an emergency is something that causes or could cause immediate harm, damage, or loss. If it’s going to wreck the place, hurt someone, or make the building uninhabitable, it’s an emergency.
Examples of real emergencies:
· Flood or water leak (especially if it won’t stop or is affecting more than one unit)
· Power outage in your entire unit or a large portion of the building
· Backed-up kitchen sink (with water rising like a mini tsunami)
· No heat in the middle of a Canadian winter (not "I'm a little chilly")
· Fridge not working (especially if you're about to lose all your food)
· Stove or oven not working (especially if you don’t have any other cooking method)
· Locked out of your unit (yes, we know it happens)
· Toilet overflowing and won’t stop (one of life’s least glamorous disaster
Smell of gas or smoke – call the building manager.
In case of a real fire, - call 911 first.
🙄 What’s Not an Emergency?
We get it — when the Wi-Fi's down and Netflix is buffering; it feels like the end of the world. But let’s keep emergencies in their lane.
Not emergencies:
A burned-out lightbulb (even if it’s your favorite lamp)
One stove burner not working (you have three more!)
A slow drain (not backing up — just a bit lazy)
Noise complaints (unless someone’s drilling into the wall at 2 AM — call security)
A squeaky door (WD-40 exists)
Mailbox key stuck — annoying? Yes. Emergency? Nope.
“My fridge light is out but the fridge is cold.” That’s a bulb, not a catastrophe.
🧠 What To Do in Each Situation (For Tenants)
Flood or Leak
Shut off the water if you can.
Use towels or buckets to contain it (but don’t climb into the ceiling tiles like a movie hero).
Call the building manager immediately.
Power Outage
Check if it’s your unit or the whole building.
Check your breaker panel — sometimes it’s just a flipped switch.
Report to manager if issue persists.
Fridge or Stove Broken
Don’t panic-purge your freezer. Call the manager.
Avoid unplugging and re-plugging ten times like it’s a slot machine.
Locked Out
First: check your pockets, bag, or maybe call your roommate.
If truly locked out, call your building manager or super — kindly. It’s probably not their favorite way to spend a Sunday morning either.
👷♂️ What To Do (For Building Managers)
You're not a superhero — you're a human with a toolkit, a phone, and probably a coffee that’s gone cold. Here’s your sanity-preserving checklist:
Take the call calmly.
Breathe. Even if the caller starts with “OH MY GOD IT’S FLOODING,” get the facts.
Triage.
Ask questions: Is water still flowing? Did you try the breaker? Are appliances completely dead or just acting up?
Dispatch or DIY.
Can you handle it now, or do you need to call a pro?
Remember: you’re responsible for responding, not performing miracles.
Document it.
Log everything. Time, issue, what you did. It’ll save you later when someone asks, “Remember that thing in 3B?”
🌙 What About After-Hours Emergencies?
Ah yes — the golden hours between 10 PM and 6 AM. Where your phone rings and you pretend you didn’t hear it for three rings because… hope.
Tenants:
If it’s water gushing, power out, locked out, or something dangerous — call.
If it’s “my kitchen light is blinking and it’s giving me anxiety” — call in the morning.
Managers:
Keep a clear emergency protocol. Who to call for plumbing? Electrical? Elevator issues?
Consider rotating on-call coverage if possible — your sleep matters too.
✅ What Happens After the Emergency?
Follow-Up: Once the panic subsides, check in. Did the fridge get replaced? Did the plumber come?
Preventative Checks: Maybe add a “sink burp check” to your seasonal inspections.
Tenant Education: Consider a one-pager or lobby notice: “What to Do Before You Call at 2 AM.”
Manager’s Decompression: Coffee, deep breaths, and a quick walk before the next flood call.
🗣️ Final Thoughts
Emergencies happen — in life and in buildings. The key is knowing when it’s truly urgent and how to respond wisely. Tenants: don’t hesitate when something’s serious. Managers: don’t try to fix it all yourself.
We’re not superheroes — just people with keys, coffee, and maybe a wet/dry vacuum in the back room.
📬 Got a wild “emergency” story of your own?
I may feature it (with your permission) in the next blog.