Image Credit: Global BC

By James Peters

BC Hydro Outages

Four days into Shuswap power outage mess, CSRD director urges patience, concern for neighbours

Jan 3, 2020 | 11:26 AM

ANGLEMONT, B.C. — Thousands of B.C. Interior residents are now into their fourth day without power after a storm tore through on Tuesday (Dec. 31).

One of the hardest-hit areas was the North Shuswap, where hundreds of trees came down over power lines as a result of the wind.

WATCH: (Video Credit: Global BC)

Even as residents are struggling to keep warm and are beginning to see refrigerated food spoil, the elected municipal official for the area says anger directed at BC Hydro is not warranted.

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“They’ve got crews coming up from the coast and from Kelowna, so I don’t think we can give them any grief for this. It’s just been a huge challenge,” Columbia-Shuswap Regional District director Jay Simpson told CFJC Today. “The people who have got power back are certainly very thankful. I know that they’ve got their crews out there working so we can’t complain about what they’re trying to do.”

“I know that we have a significant number of people that are still without power. It’s four days in and they’re trying to stay warm and keep all of their food viable in their freezers and stuff,” noted Simpson. “So it’s still a challenge out here. We’re not out of the woods yet.”

BC Hydro’s website noted 118 outages in the Thompson-Shuswap as of Friday morning (Jan. 3), affecting more than 2400 customers. Many of the outages affect fewer than five customers.

A map shows dozens of power outages around the Shuswap (Image Credit: BC Hydro)

Simpson says he doesn’t have any concerns about the utility’s efforts at both restoring power and communicating with residents.

“[BC Hydro] is very good at keeping us abreast of the progress they’re making. We get regular email updates from them and we talk to them by phone as well,” said Simpson.

“We had probably 200 trees down on Squilax-Anglemont Road on Tuesday night. That was just a crazy place to try to get through in that respect. But certainly, the places that are further off of the main road are still without power and Hydro is chipping away.”

WATCH: (Video Credit: Global BC)

Unfortunately, Simpson says there is likely nothing frustrated residents can do but try to be patient. Otherwise, he advises them to look out for each other.

“What I’d like everybody to do is check with their neighbours,” Simpson said. “There are certainly people out here that are more well protected and able to take care of themselves. I don’t think that there’s anything the local residents can do with regards to the power, but certainly checking with neighbours and making sure that everybody’s as safe as they can be would be perfect.”