There are thousands homes and businesses in Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows without power on Monday afternoon, Dec. 15, as high winds have brought trees down onto hydro lines.
Hydro reports Maple Ridge has been one of the hardest hit areas.
There is a large outage impacting about 500 customers in the Cottonwood area, and a larger blackout impacting almost 4,100 in Mapel Ridge and Pitt Meadows impacting customers on the east side of 224th street from Dewdney Trunk Road to Silver Valley , which are both expected to be back on by 5:30 p.m., Hydo estimates. Crews are already on site.
There is an outages of about 500 cusomers along 123 Avenue, and crews are on their way, as of 4:30 p.m., and another on 112th Avenue, east of 240th Street, and about 300 customers are waiting for Hydo Crews to arrive.
A large area, from Websters Corners to Stave Falls, and taking in Ruskin and Whonnock, has 2,500 customerrs without power, and the cause is under investigation.
The powerful windstorm has left about 90,000 Hydro customers without electricity across the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. With strong winds continuing, additional outages are expected in these regions, said the utility company.
After several years of drought, weakened vegetation across the province has made trees and branches more susceptible to wind damage, said a Hydro release, and dead or damaged trees have fallen onto BC Hydro’s electrical equipment, causing widespread outages.
BC Hydro crews and contractors are working to repair damage to power lines, power poles and other equipment. Restoration efforts will continue throughout the evening and overnight.
Reports of downed power lines are being received. A downed power line is an emergency – call 911 immediately and stay at least 10 metres back. BC Hydro crews will work with first responders to make the area safe.
For the latest outage updates and estimated restoration times, visit bchydro.com/outages.