BC Hydro restores powers for thousands of customers; many in Central Interior remain in the dark

“The most significant challenge is now in parts of the Central Interior, particularly east and north of Prince George, where crews are facing extensive damage spread across a large geographic area, including approximately 200 spans of downed wire, numerous broken poles and other damaged electrical equipment,” BC Hydro states in a news release issued late Sunday (Nov. 8) afternoon.

Aftermath of the windstorm in Prince George. (Image Credit: BC Hydro)

For some customers in the hardest-hit rural areas north and east of Prince George, BC Hydro says outages are expected to last multiple days, with the earliest restoration expected by late Tuesday evening.

Elsewhere, 270 customers in the Thompson/Shuswap region are without power. Of them, 174 are in Tobiano.

Overall, the number of customers without power is substantially lower than the 30,000 BC Hydro reported as of 5:00 p.m. Sunday and the peak of 135,000 overnight.

BC Hydro adds crews have been working around the clock since Friday, and the utility services company for the province says it has brought in additional crews, contractors and specialized equipment to support the hardest-hit areas.

“As customers are restored in other parts of the province, those resources are continuing to be redeployed to help tackle the most difficult remaining repairs,” BC Hydro states.

Residents are reminded to stay at least 10 metres away from any downed, damaged or low-hanging wire and call 911 immediately to report it.

BC Hydro also encourages residents to keep emergency kits stocked, mobile devices charged and enough supplies on hand to be self-sufficient for at least 72 hours.

by Aaron Schulze

BC Hydro restores powers for thousands of customers; many in Central Interior remain in the dark

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