Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 12:20pm – Update from BC Hydro:
BC Hydro crews making steady progress as they continue to battle fierce winds
VANCOUVER: BC Hydro crews continue to make progress restoring power to customers impacted by the ongoing windstorm. Of the more than 300,000 customers impacted since last night, more than 210,000 customers have been restored. However, with strong winds expected to continue today in some areas, particularly on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, further outages are expected.
As of 11:30 a.m., about 90,000 customers are without power. The majority – about 80,000 – are on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands. The hardest hit areas are currently Nanaimo, Victoria, Duncan, Ladysmith and Port Hardy.
Drought-damaged trees and branches came down on electrical equipment during the windstorm causing extensive damage. BC Hydro has had all available BC Hydro crews and contractor crews working since last night, and work will continue throughout the day. Resources will be brought over from the Lower Mainland to support restoration efforts on Vancouver Island today as well.
Crews are busy replacing power lines, poles and other equipment to get as many customers restored as quickly as possible. They have, however, encountered access challenges due to the heavy debris on some roads. In some areas, the strong winds have made it too unsafe to begin work, and crews will begin restoration work as soon as the conditions improve.
Crews are receiving reports of downed power lines. A downed power line is an emergency. Call 911 and stay at least 10 metres back. BC Hydro crews will work with first responders to make the area safe.
Crews will continue to work around-the-clock until all customers are restored. BC Hydro wants to thank its customers for their patience, and it will continue to provide updated estimates for power restoration as they become available at bchydro.com/outages.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 11:30am – Information from BC Hydro:
BC Hydro crews made significant progress overnight restoring power to customers impacted by the windstorm. More than 175,000 customers have been restored – or nearly two-thirds of the more than 272,000 impacted. However, with strong winds expected to continue today in some areas, particularly on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast, further outages are expected.
As of 6:30 a.m., about 95,000 customers are without power. The majority – about 90,000 – are on Vancouver Island and the Gulf Islands, and about 5,000 are in the Lower Mainland and on the Sunshine Coast. The hardest hit areas are currently Nanaimo, Victoria, Duncan and Ladysmith.
Drought-damaged trees and branches came down on electrical equipment during the windstorm causing significant damage. BC Hydro had all available BC Hydro crews and contractor crews working overnight to restore power, and that work will continue today. Crews are busy replacing power lines, poles and other equipment to get as many customers restored as quickly as possible, but have encountered access challenges as a result of the heavy debris on some roads as well as areas where the wind was too strong overnight to complete the work safely.
Crews are receiving reports of downed power lines. A downed power line is an emergency. Call 911 and stay at least 10 metres back. BC Hydro crews will work with first responders to make the area safe.
Crews will continue to work around-the-clock until all customers are restored. BC Hydro wants to thank its customers for their patience, and it will continue to provide updated estimates for power restoration as they become available at bchydro.com/outages.
Wednesday, November 20, 2024, 9:30am – The District of Sooke is responding to a significant storm event that has caused widespread disruptions across the region. Winds reached speeds in excess of 100 kilometers per hour, resulting in fallen trees, downed power lines, and road closures. This is an evolving situation, and the District is actively coordinating responses to ensure public safety.
Earlier this morning, through Drive BC, non-essential travel was not recommended due to the significant amount of debris on Highway 14. Conditions are improving as crews safely perform cleanup and restoration work. For the most up-to-date information on Highway 14, please refer to Drive BC.
Current Conditions and Local Road Closures:
From the Ministry of Transportation and Transit:
- Single-lane alternating traffic is in place in several locations between Langford and Sooke. BC Hydro is on scene and alternating traffic with 30 min stoppages.
- Highway 14 is closed at Kemp Lake Road in Otter Point. Detour via Otter Point.
- East Sooke Road is closed just west of Gillespie.
Several District of Sooke local roads are currently impacted by full or partial closures with evaluations underway, including portions of Sooke River Road, Beaton Road, and Gillespie Road. Contractors and crews are working as quickly and safely as possible to clear debris and restore access.
Support for Impacted Residents:
The District understands that four homes have been directly impacted by the storm. The Emergency Support Services (ESS) team has been deployed to assist those needing further assistance. ESS is available to provide 72-hour support for individuals displaced from their homes.
Homeowners are reminded to contact their insurance providers to begin the claims process if their property has been damaged.
Reporting Issues on Public Property:
Residents are encouraged to report fallen trees or other storm-related hazards on local roads, parks, and trails. Reports should include specific locations and the impacted area (i.e. roads, sidewalks, trails, etc.), and photos can be uploaded through the District’s online feedback portal at: https://sooke.ca/provide-feedback/. Alternatively, reports can be made by calling 250.642.1634.
If wires are impacted please report to BC Hydro at 1.800.224.9376.
Please note: It will take time for team members to respond, and all available resources are actively supporting storm recovery efforts. The District appreciates your patience as crews address the most urgent hazards first.
Safety Reminder:
Residents are strongly advised to avoid treed areas, parks, and trails at this time, as numerous hazards, including falling branches and unstable trees, are expected.
Additionally, avoid downed power lines, which should be considered live and extremely dangerous. Stay at least 10 meters away and call 911.
For the latest updates on power outages and restoration efforts, please refer to BC Hydro’s outage map. For current weather forecasts and updates, visit Environment Canada.
Stay Informed and Stay Safe:
This is a dynamic situation. Updates will be provided as new information becomes available at www.sooke.ca and through our X feed.
