BC Hydro expects outages to continue into Christmas as thousands still without power

BC Hydro is sending more crews to help restore power on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands, as almost 20,000 customers are still without power.

The utility says it has 800 personnel working around the clock, but despite that, some people will still be without power for days.

"Unfortunately, we will have some customers out in the most severe hit areas through Christmas Day," said Tanya Fish, spokesperson for BC Hydro.

A few hundred customers are still without power in the Pemberton, B.C., area but they were expected to be back on the grid later Monday.

As of noon PT Monday, BC Hydro said the following communities will likely be without power on Christmas Day:

• Bamfield/West Bamfield/Nitinat.
• Thetis Island/Penelakut Island.
• Protection Island.
• Parker Island.

In a statement posted online, the utility said Thursday's massive windstorm was one of the worst it has experienced in years. At its height, almost 400,000 customers were without power.

Crews from other parts of the province, as well as Alberta and the East Coast, have been brought in to repair the damage.

Blocked roads

One of the challenges for Hydro crews is the number of trees that have been downed and are blocking roads and side streets, making it difficult to access some neighbourhoods.

Up to 80 per cent of roads are closed, partially closed or have hazards like fallen trees or downed power lines on some Gulf Islands, says provincial highway information service DriveBC.

B.C. Public Safety Minister Mike Farnworth said it's too early to say what the cleanup and response will cost, but repairing the damage will be expensive.

"What's amazing is that you've got men and women who are giving up their Christmas holidays," said Farnworth. "They're working around the clock and they are working in challenging, often dangerous conditions."

Island community impacted

The storm has left Shakeira Wynde with no way to get back to her home on Galiano Island.

Wynde had a Christmas gathering with friends and relatives planned in her home, but because of road closures and power outages she can't return. She's been staying in a motel in Sidney and says her holiday feast has been left to rot in her fridge.

"I came to town with just the clothes I was wearing and not even a heavy coat, so I've had to go out and buy more clothes," she said.

'It was just unbelievable'

An ocean-front wellness retreat that's also on Galiano Island will have to be closed until at least the end of January. The owner says says the cost of removing fallen trees and repairing structures on her property will run into several thousand dollars.

"When we drove here from the ferry it was just unbelievable," said Luannah Livermore, owner of Serenity by the Sea. "It was just a hurricane zone that's for sure, [I've] never had a storm like this as long as I've lived here."

Ladysmith residents come together

The town of Ladysmith opened warming centres over the weekend for residents without power, as well as an emergency centre for homeless people. Hot showers, refreshments, and charging stations were also on offer.

The mayor of Ladysmith said he was impressed with the community came together as residents reached out to neighbours to help.

"As the power was restored to different pockets in the community, through social media you could see people reaching out and saying, 'We have a spare room, we have sleeping bags you're welcome to," said Mayor Aaron Stone.

Power was restored to most of Ladysmith by late Sunday night, but rural areas are still without power.

"We've opened our doors to our neighbouring communities as well. As we got power back, we could provide those services, and we've seen people come in from areas … that were really hard hit."