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Wind knocks out power to thousands on Island

Times Colonist


Tuesday, October 07, 2008



CREDIT: Angie Wilson
Strong winds toppled this tree on Angie Wilson's jeep.

Gusting winds wiped out power to more than 30,000 homes on Vancouver Island last night.

However, by 10 a.m., the number was down to between 10,000 and 13,000, mostly in the Nanaimo, Ladysmith and Central Saanich areas, said B.C. Hydro spokesman Ted Olynyk.

"We hope to have most of the customers on before lunchtime," he said.

The exceptions are likely to be homes on the Gulf Islands and scattered homes in hard-hit areas such as Chemainus, Olynyk said.

"We expect to have everyone up by tonight unless there's severe damage that requires work," he said.

As of 1:15 p.m., the B.C. Hydro website was still indicating widespread outages especially in the North Cowichan, Ladysmith area. About 6,900 customers were without power on South Vancouver Island and 4,400 on North Vancouver Island.

The wind storm, which tossed branches over lines, started about 9 p.m. in Campbell River, then blew its way down the Island, through Comox, Nanaimo and Victoria.


A power outage in Mill Bay and strong winds in the Saanich Inlet forced the Mill Bay ferry out of service this morning.

B.C. Ferries cancelled two round-trips, but expects to be back in service this afternoon.


"B.C. Hydro was telling us they do expect the power to be back on at 1 p.m.," B.C. Ferries spokesperson Deborah Marshall said.

"So long as the winds subside, we would expect to resume service at 1:15 p.m."


http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=73ca3856-824f-46fe-82f8-74ecaeba1026