Wind, rain knock out power to more than 84,000 Nova Scotia Power customers

More than 84,000 Nova Scotia Power customers were without electricity at the height of the outages on Monday and many of them won't get power back until Tuesday evening, says the utility.

The majority of customers will be without power until at least 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nova Scotia Power spokeswoman Bev Ware said. 

More people are expected to lose power, especially in northern Nova Scotia Cape Breton, as sustained winds and rain continue overnight. Those latest outages won't be repaired until Wednesday at 7 a.m. AT, Ware said.

As of 9:45 p.m. AT Monday, most of the outages were in the Halifax area, Stellarton and Sydney. 
Most of the other outages are scattered throughout central and northern Nova Scotia, along with the Annapolis Valley, South Shore, Cumberland, Colchester, near the Northumberland Strait and in Cape Breton. 

"Strong sustained winds all day have weakened trees and branches across the province," Ware said.

"That's causing them to fall onto power lines, so that's causing the majority of the damage."

More outages expected

Crews will be working all night, with new ones going on shift in the morning. 

"They're working safely and they're working as quickly as possible to restore power," Ware said. "We know that this is frustrating for customers on the long weekend."

Nova Scotia Power has opened its emergency operations centre in Ragged Lake, N.S., for the first time since the winter. It will be staffed 24/7 by senior company leaders specially trained in storm management, who will direct crews on the ground until all power is restored, Ware said.

Heavy rain also led to flooding on highways and car crashes on Monday.
Bron: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/power-outages-heavy-rain-cape-breton-1.3799180 

Cape Breton-Victoria schools closed Tuesday after rain, flooding

All schools in the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board will be closed Tuesday after severe flooding throughout the area.
Centre scolaire Étoile de l'Acadie in Sydney is also closed Tuesday.
Here's what you need to know about services in Cape Breton after the heavy rain:

Hospitals
Cape Breton County hospitals will be offering only emergency services on Tuesday.
All elective and same-day surgeries are cancelled in Sydney, North Sydney, Sydney Mines, Glace Bay and New Waterford, the Nova Scotia Health Authority announced Monday night.

Walk-in blood collection, outpatient lab services, X-rays and diagnostic imaging also are cancelled.

Cape Breton Cancer Treatment Centre patients will be called between 6:30 a.m. and 7 a.m. on Tuesday about the status of their appointments. The renal dialysis service in Sydney and North Sydney is not affected.
Buildings on Kings Road and Townsend Street in Sydney will be closed, affecting mental health and addictions, primary health and public health services.
All staff are asked to still go to work, if safe, and an update will be provided by noon Tuesday.

Thousands of Nova Scotians won't get power back until Tuesday evening

Comfort centres open
In Cape Breton, three comfort centres have been opened to help residents who are experiencing flooding or power loss.
People should only seek comfort zones if they are able to do so safely. Otherwise, people can call non-emergency dispatch at 902-536-5151. 
Comfort zones can be found at the Grand Lake Road Volunteer Fire Department, the Reserve Mines Fire Hall and the North Sydney Firemen's Club.

Stay off the roads
Emergency officials also are warning people to use caution on the roads and to pay attention to forecasts until heavy wind and rain subsides.
Anyone who must leave their home is being asked to take an emergency kit with them.

Nova Scotia RCMP are offering tips for safe driving:

Do not use cruise control in the rain.
In rain or fog, drive with your headlights on at all times. This makes it easier for you to see other drivers and for other drivers to see you.
Heavy rain can increase the possibility of hydroplaning so slow down and avoid areas where water is pooling. If you start to hydroplane, stay calm and take your foot off the gas.
Beware of other vehicles around you and give yourself extra space between you and the vehicle you are following.

The Canso Causeway and the Macdonald and MacKay bridges are closed to high-sided vehicles and trucks with heavy loads. The ferries in LaHave, Tancock and Englishtown are not running.


Sydney firefighters are "extremely busy" with panic and distress calls, Cape Breton Fire and Emergency Services deputy fire chief Chris March said.

"A lot of flooded basements. We have some telephone poles and power line poles on fire," March said.
Bron: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/nova-scotia-heavy-rain-flooding-crashes-rcmp-1.3798668 


  | Gewijzigd: 30 januari 2017, 13:15 uur, door Joyce.s