A newborn and no electricity: P.E.I. family without power since Sunday
Kevin Yarr | CBC News | Posted: November 30, 2016 4:11 PM | Last Updated: November 30, 2016
Justin Simard has a 16-day-old baby, and no power since Sunday
When Justin Simard's first baby was born 16 days ago, he knew there would be challenges, but he didn't know one of them would be going for days without power.
Simard was in Halifax on business Sunday when the lights went out in his Melville home in eastern P.E.I. at 4:30 p.m. He told CBC's Island Morning that first night wasn't too bad for his wife, Ellen O'Brien, at home alone with their infant child.
Simard got home Monday morning. With a gas stove in the kitchen they were still able to cook, but it started to get cold in the house by late Monday. They packed up for O'Brien's parents' place. They didn't have power there either, but they did have a wood furnace.
They've been travelling back and forth, cooking at home, getting warm at the in-laws.
"The one positive spin, Mom always said be positive when possible. [The baby] has been having trouble sleeping so at least when we go back and forth he goes to sleep in the car," said Simard.
Difficulty in the dark
Simard said they've been able to get by pretty well during the day, but the darkness at night has been an issue.
When the baby wakes up, you can't just flick on the light to see what's going on.
"Fussing through the diaper bag, trying to find the diaper cream wearing a headlamp, rooting around in the dark, it's been annoying," said Simard.
Simard said there has been some insult added to injury because many of his close neighbours have electricity, including a vacant lot just 200 metres away.
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