Sunday, December 23, 2018 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. [Updated: Mon Dec 24 at 8:20 am]
As of 8:20 this morning, Monday December 24, there are 25,996 BC Hydro customers without power. Of those, 24,476 (94.1%) are on Vancouver Island & the Gulf Islands, 1,066 are in northern BC, and 454 in the Lower Mainland/Sunshine Coast.
Wind that came from several directions during the December 20 storm brought down a lot of trees and power poles, many that blocked traffic including repair vehicles.
Sunday, December 23, 2018 ~ VANCOUVER ISLAND. [Updated: 9 pm Dec 23]
by West Shore Voice News
Many Vancouver Island households are still in darkness as Christmas approaches due to the windstorm that caused widespread power outages across coastal BC and the lower mainland.
The December 20 wind event that carried into Friday December 21 still sees 40,190 BC Hydro customers on Vancouver Island without power on the Sunday before Christmas.
Here’s the breakdown: As of 2 pm this Sunday, December 23, there are 19,439 customers without power in the south island area (most of those in Duncan, Central Saanich, and the Gulf Islands, with smaller numbers in other areas still including Langford, Metchosin, Sidney, Esquimalt, and west of Sooke), as well as 20,751 without power in north island areas.
Overall the BC Hydro total for customers without power this afternoon is 42,317 which means Vancouver Island comprises 94.9% of that tally.
BC Hydro says all available BC crews are in action, that’s about 550 personnel with some called off holidays, says BC Hydro media rep Ted Olynyk. By today about 800 personnel were helping restore power, with crews brought in from Alberta and Atlantic Canada.
As posted on the BC Hydro website: “Thursday’s windstorm was one of the most severe storms BC Hydro has experienced in years. All available crews continue to work until the remaining customers are restored. Due to the extent of the damage in the hardest hit areas, it will take several more days to restore power. These areas include Duncan, Nanaimo, Lake Cowichan and the Gulf Islands. We appreciate your patience and will continue to provide updates as they become available.”
Outage lists are regularly updated at www.bchydro.com