News

Huge windstorm causes power outages across Lower Mainland

by Charlie Smith on August 29th, 2015 at 1:07 PM
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      Surrey RCMP have urged residents to remain home so that work crews can clear away fallen trees.

      It came in the wake of an intense windstorm that has cut off electricity to thousands of homes.

      The power outages are so far reaching that even B.C. Hydro is having trouble providing information on the extent of the problem.

      Today, the Crown utility tweeted that it was trying to resolve issues with its website.

      It has also urged people to remain 10 metres back from any fallen power lines. That's roughly the equivalent of a bus length.

      Meanwhile, the storm has generated a fair amount of traffic over Twitter.

      Comments

      5 Comments

      Bruce

      Aug 29, 2015 at 2:05pm

      Presumably a lot of these trees were weakened already by the drought.

      Dorothy House

      Aug 29, 2015 at 3:22pm

      Out here in Aldergrove between 264 & 272 and 0 ave up past fraser highway . Power out all around us live in mobile home park so we are boxed in.

      CPP

      Aug 30, 2015 at 7:27am

      I think it's a wake up call for everyone - this was a windstorm, a major disaster will definitely be something where you need to be prepared for no help for at least 3 days. All govt depts need a reality check on how prepared they are with infrastructure and response protocols for emergencies. People upset over loss of internet, smartphones and food spoilage need a wake up call....no one cares! A windstorm broiught Metro Vancouver to it's knees.....I shudder to think of the chaos a earthquake will brings on the helpless unprepared population of Metro Vancouver.

      Lament

      Aug 30, 2015 at 6:44pm

      Trees need to be trimmed all the time. Hydro's got to go around neighbourhoods and start cutting even if the greenery isn't near power lines. Otherwise, accidents are waiting to happen.

      boy are we ready for the big one

      Aug 30, 2015 at 8:14pm

      Wind gust takes out 400,000 homes and power is cut for two days. Okay, there were lots of dropped trees, for sure. It also shows how flimsy the power grid is here. Stock up with water and food for 14 days. We are in no way ready for the earthquake.

      Thanks to the BC Hydro crews for working so hard to restore power. I can’t say the same for the ones who are in charge at BC Hydro. They clearly have not done enough at BC Hydro to strengthen our decrepit and outdated power lines which need to be below grade to avoid this shit in the future.