• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

Emergency Team Rolls Out As Ice Storm Knocks Out Power to 70,000 in P.E.I.

Posted on: Wednesday, 30 January 2008, 15:00 CST

By THE CANADIAN PRESS

CHARLOTTETOWN - The Red Cross activated its emergency response team Wednesday after two days of freezing rain brought down power lines across Prince Edward Island, knocking out electricity to an estimated 70,000 customers.

The blackouts started Tuesday afternoon in western P.E.I. and have since spread eastward, with Charlottetown losing its power just after noon on Wednesday.

Several communities in eastern P.E.I. were also without power.

It remained unclear how long it would take before electricity is restored.

"We've counted eight, 10, 12 inches of solid ice hanging on power lines on trees, and this is two days after the ice storm," said Wayne Thibodeau, a reporter with the Charlottetown Guardian.

"We travelled through one section of road where the trees were literally laying down in the middle of the road. But these weren't trees that were broken, these e trees were weighed down with ice - it was quite amazing to see."

Maritime Electric was still trying to pinpoint problem areas in Prince County, but heavy fog had reduced visibility to mere metres for crews scouting power lines by snowmobile.

As well, a helicopter borrowed from New Brunswick had been grounded for two days because of poor visibility.

In the village of O'Leary, about 100 kilometres northwest of Charlottetown, officials were preparing for winter's worst as the wind started to pick up.

"Homes are starting to get very cold and a lot of people are coming into O'Leary from the outlying areas," said Nancy Wallace, chairwoman of the community council.

The local community centre has been transformed into a emergency shelter.

"People are coming here to get water because their well pumps aren't working and to cook some food," she said.

Wallace said the centre has a generator purchased in 2000 to deal with concerns about the potential impact of the Y2K computer bug.

"This is the first year we've had to use it. We have a television going here for the children and one lady just came in with a coffee pot to make coffee to take back home," she said.

"We're picking up some staples for tonight, some bread and milk and the Red Cross is coming in with blankets and cots we can use."

Volunteer firefighters in O'Leary, which is home to about 900 people, were planning to go door to door to make sure residents were safe.

Emergency shelters have also been set up in Wellington, Miscouche, Alberton and Hunter River.

Marcia Carroll, a Red Cross regional director, confirmed an emergency response team has been dispatched.

"We've ... loaded up our truck, van and trailer with cots and blankets and volunteers and water and we're heading out," she said.

"We worry about people using candles and not tending them and seniors not being able to feed themselves or people not being able to look after their children and pets in an appropriate manner."

The province's Emergency Measures organization issued a statement saying it was getting generators for relief centres.

Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram said the province can also get high-capacity generators through the Canadian Coast Guard.

Bertam urged Islanders to ensure they have sufficient supplies of drinking water, flashlights, batteries and radios.

The fire marshal's office warned residents to use caution when lighting candles or oil lamps, and to ensure adequate ventilation when using kerosene heaters.

Source: Canadian Press

More News in this Category