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New Windstorm Rakes B.C. South Coast, Power is Cut to 190,000 Hydro Customers

Posted on: Tuesday, 12 December 2006, 00:00 CST

VANCOUVER (CP) - British Columbia's south coast is being pounded by another windstorm, with at least 190,000 B.C. Hydro customers without electricity.

The storm uprooted trees, knocked down power lines and disrupted travel with winds gusting at 100 kilometres an hour in some places. B.C. Hydro had all available crews and contract staff working through the day and night in an attempt to fix downed power lines. Additional staff was being brought in from the Interior to help.

Spokeswoman Elisha Moreno said some problems had to be assessed overnight before power could be fixed. She said customers should be prepared to spend at least one night without hydro.

Several B.C. Ferries sailings between the Northern Gulf Islands were cancelled and a number of sailings between the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island were delayed.

In Vancouver, the force of the winds knocked down trees onto the Stanley Park causeway, temporarily blocking access to the Lion's Gate Bridge.

Streets were clogged with vehicles as traffic lights were dark at many Lower Mainland intersections.

On Vancouver Island, Port Alberni resident Susan Jones said the town was being swept by hurricane-force winds that knocked out most power.

"Anything that isn't nailed down is being blown away," she said. "I've seen all kinds of crap go flying down the street here."

She said the town was having a hard time getting traffic or weather alerts since the generator at the local radio station had gone down.

Monday's storm was the latest in a series that brought wind, rain and snow to the province's south coast since early November.

Source: Canadian Press

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