Calgary snow: Power mostly restored after storm, Enmax says

Power has been restored to all primary lines across Calgary after a heavy dump of wet September snow toppled thousands of trees and left more than 50,000 Calgarians in the dark, says city utility Enmax.

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About 1,800 residents and businesses are still without power because of isolated damage. Customers still without power are asked to call 403-258-8232. 

"Enmax is working directly with impacted households to restore service," said the city in a release. "Safety remains the priority concern and houses cannot be re-energized unless it is safe to do so."

Neighbourhoods still affected include Bowness, Lakeview, Crescent Heights, Briar Hill, Charleswood, Elbow Park, Mount Royal, Varsity, Lake Bonavista and Maple Ridge.

Varsity resident Jean Podovinnikoff says she's trying to keep warm while she waits for the power to come back on.

"It went out yesterday morning at 5:42 and it has been off ever since. Look, I've got everything I own on. When your feet hit the floor it is pretty cold," she said. 

Extra crews have been brought in from Edmonton to help finish restoring power, said Enmax president Gianna Manes at a briefing on Thursday morning.

Calgarians with a damaged connector — also called a “service masthead” — will need to hire a qualified professional to complete the repairs. The city advises residents to make sure they obtain the proper permits, and any questions can be directed to 311 or 403-268-5311.

Cleanup underway

Cleanup efforts in the city have just started.

Mayor Naheed Nenshi said it will take days — maybe even weeks — to clear away the broken tree branches scattered on roads and sidewalks around Calgary. 

He said the many firefighters, police officers, road workers and Enmax crew members who have worked so hard to get the city through the crisis deserve a lot of praise.

"It's time to hug a public servant again," he said. 

The hashtag #hugapublicservant became widely used during last year's flood in Calgary. It resurfaced on Wednesday and even started trending in Calgary.

The city saw roughly 35 centimetres of snow over three days.

Ken Uzeloc, director of the Calgary Emergency Management Agency, said over that time period the city's 311 call centre received more than 15,500 calls — more than during the 2013 flood. 

"Residents who have already contacted the city with a tree-related complaint, and nothing has changed, should avoid calling back," said the city in a release. "If a situation changes and poses an immediate danger, please call 911."

The city says residents can also access 311 information online or through a downloadable app.

Landfills waive tipping fees

Residents can take branches to city landfills for free, or cut them into small pieces and stack them beside garbage and recycling bins. It might take awhile, but officials say city crews will eventually pick them up.

All of the city's leaf and pumpkin drop-off locations will also begin accepting tree debris on Saturday.

All traffic signals are back online and roads are in good shape after city crews worked through the night to clear away debris, Uzeloc said. 

“This snow event is another example of the resiliency of the city of Calgary," he said. 

Runoff from the melting snow is not expected to cause any major problems, Uzeloc said. He asked Calgarians to keep an eye out for catch basins clogged with tree debris. 

Uzeloc said there have been several reported sightings of bear cubs and bobcats inside the city, possibly because of the snowstorm.

All Calgary Board of Education schools and Calgary Catholic School District schools are open. Some regional parks and pathways remain closed until further notice, but most of Fish Creek Provincial Park has reopened to the public.

Some local golf courses and athletic parks will also be closed until debris has been cleared. 

"Due to the current closure of some city parks and pathways, outdoor events planned for this weekend may need to be relocated or cancelled," said the city in a release. "The city will continue to work with event organizers to advise of any impacts to public events."