Thousands still in the dark as B.C. recovers from powerful windstorm
Posted December 21, 2018 6:54 am.
Last Updated December 21, 2018 10:37 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
BRITISH COLUMBIA (NEWS 1130) – Parts of B.C. are slowly recovering after a powerful windstorm left thousands in the dark and a trail of destruction behind.
At the peak of the storm, 400,000 customers were without power. BC Hydro crews managed to restore power to many, but as of Friday morning, almost 150,000 were still waiting to get service restored.
RELATED: More than 120,000 without power, trees down, as winds batter the Lower Mainland
“BC Hydro will continue to prioritize repairs that pose a safety risk, such as downed power lines, and on making repairs to high-voltage transmission lines and substations as this will bring the most customers back on as quickly as possible,” said the company in an email. “Additional crews are being brought in from other parts of the province to assist with restoration efforts as severe damage remains.”
For a full list of outages you can visit BC Hydro’s website.
BC Hydro says crews are dealing with reports of dozens of downed power lines, noting people should assume all lines are live, stay as far back as possible, and call 911 immediately.
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Tanya Fish with the Crown corporation insists every effort is being made to get power restored.
“We’re bringing in crews from other parts of the province to assist with restoration efforts both here in the Lower Mainland, as well as on Vancouver Island,” she adds. “We are also patrolling by helicopter to look at the damage that’s caused to our transmission structures.”
Meanwhile, ferry cancellations mean it’s a busy morning for BC Ferries. At Tsawwassen terminal holiday travellers are lining up hoping to get a spot.
-With files from Lasia Kretzel and Ash Kelly
