Don't take Teddy lightly, Islanders warned

While Teddy is not expected to be as powerful as Dorian, the storm's impact could be just as significant, says P.E.I.'s Emergency Measures Organization.

That's because Teddy is moving more slowly, said EMO co-ordinator Tanya Mullally at a provincial briefing Monday afternoon.

"Teddy will be a little less intense but it's going to be around for a longer period of time. It's moving a lot slower," said Mullally.

"We're going to see the impacts in the province for maybe up to two days, 48 hours, so those impacts could be more significant."

Teddy is expected to be a post-tropical storm by the time it gets to P.E.I., but is still forecast to bring strong winds and heavy rain starting Tuesday afternoon and running through Wednesday.

Mullally noted that the rain is expected to start mid-afternoon on Tuesday, and she said there will be lull overnight, but that doesn't mean the storm is over. The strongest winds are expected during the day Wednesday.

Help each other

Public Safety Minister Bloyce Thompson said at the briefing that Islanders should prepare now, while they have time.

"Check on your neighbours," said Thompson.

"One thing I did see during Dorian is Islanders helping Islanders and it is very important that we continue to do that during these emergency times, and it makes me very proud to be an Islander."

Because getting supplies could be complicated by pandemic restrictions, EMO is recommending having a five-day supply of food, water, medications and other necessary items rather than the usual three.

Mullally said the briefing on Teddy is in response to the public's reaction to pandemic briefings from the Chief Public Health Office.

"We learned during COVID that doing daily briefings is really something that the public needed, wanted and we were positioned to provide, so we wanted to take those lessons and apply them to storm response," she said.

Island preparedness 

Maritime Electric has been preparing for the storm since last week, applying many of the lessons from post-tropical storm Dorian, training crews and making sure they have all the necessary supplies on hand.

"Really the big thing for us is a lot of the supply issues," said Kim Griffin with Maritime Electric.

We're doing what we can with the resources we have.— Greg Gaudet, Summerside municipal services

"Making sure we have enough poles in advance, or if there's any way the bridge may be shut down, if there's things that we have coming across, to make sure that they're there."

Maritime Electric is also asking Islanders to be prepared for power outages by charging their devices, stocking up on supplies and, for those in rural areas, having water on hand.

"We've been actively preparing for the storm for the last few days," said Scott Adams, Charlottetown's manager of public works.

Staff have been checking for trees or branches that may be a concern in high winds and making sure storm water drains are clear of debris.

Concerns post-Dorian

Summerside is also getting ready.

"We just finished our annual lift station maintenance for our sewer system," said Greg Gaudet with Summerside's municipal services.

"Secondly, we make sure all of our equipment is ready to go and gone over and well fuelled."

Summerside has its own electric utility, so they make sure the power plant has full fuel capabilities if anything goes sideways. 

Gaudet said the city does worry about damage to trees from post-tropical storm Dorian last September that may have gone unnoticed and cause them to come down during this storm.

They have generators on standby, chainsaws sharpened and a plan to deal with wood debris, he said. 

"We're doing what we can with the resources we have," said Gaudet, but advises residents to be prepared to help themselves with supplies at home. 

There is currently a tropical cyclone information statement in effect for all of P.E.I.

Retailers busy

Island shops and stores are also busy as people prep for the incoming storm.

"We are definitely seeing an increase in traffic," said Tammy Clory, assistant manager of the Home Hardware in Charlottetown.

"People are coming in looking for the batteries, flashlights, candles, anything for emergency preparation."

She said battery and flashlight stocks are holding up, but other items are moving quickly.

"We are running low on candles and unfortunately we have sold out of generators," she said.

She said the demand for generators has increased 10-fold compared to previous years.

Clory said she thinks people are being more proactive in getting ready for the storm.

"Dorian I think was a big eye-opener for people," she said.

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