Nova Scotia Power: Hurricane Fiona Update
HALIFAX – Hurricane Fiona continues to impact communities across Nova Scotia with extreme wind and heavy rain. We are seeing significant impacts from the storm including uprooted trees, broken poles and downed power lines across the province.
Overnight, crews were able to start restoring power in the western region once wind speeds dropped below 80km/hr. In other areas, crews are currently out assessing damage, responding to downed lines and preparing to go up in buckets to start restoring power when the winds decrease and it is safe to do so.
“The safety of our customers and crews is our priority right now,” says Peter Gregg, President and CEO, NS Power. “We are seeing significant damage as Fiona moves across the province and it’s important to remember it isn’t over yet. Our crews will be restoring power as quickly as possible, once it is safe to do so.”
There are over 800 powerline technicians, forestry technicians and damage assessors in the field, across the province, with hundreds more, including engineers, dispatchers and customer service representatives working behind the scenes to support crews and customers. Crews from New Brunswick, Maine and Quebec arrived yesterday, in advance of the storm, to help with restoration efforts.
“We urge all Nova Scotians, our customers, employees, crews and first responders to please be safe,” Gregg said. “Nothing is more important than your own personal safety and that of your families.”
There are currently more than 400,000 customers without power across Nova Scotia.
Customers are encouraged to keep an eye on our outage map at http://outagemap.nspower.ca for the latest information and estimated restoration times. We do our best to give an estimate of when the power will be restored and once our crews get to the site and assess what’s going on those estimates will be updated. For more information on restoration phases visit: http://nspower.ca/storm.
QUICK FACTS:
- Keeping our employees, contractors and customers safe is the most important aspect of our work.
- If winds are over 80km an hour, crews will stand down until its safe to get back out there.
- 80km/hour winds can weaken branches/limbs on trees which can come down later.
- 90km/hour winds can start taking whole trees down.
- 100km+/hour can take multiple trees in one location down.
- If you come across downed wires, please stay back, don’t try to move them yourself. Call us and report it right away (1-877-428-6004).
- Customers can find a full list of safety tips at www.nspower.ca/stormready
About Nova Scotia Power
Nova Scotia Power Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Emera Inc. (TSX-EMA), a diversified energy and services company. Nova Scotia Power provides 95% of the generation, transmission and distribution of electrical power to more than 525,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers across Nova Scotia. The company is focused on new technologies to enhance customer service and reliability, reduce emissions and add renewable energy. Nova Scotia Power has over 1,700 employees and $4.1 billion in operating assets. Learn more at www.nspower.ca.
Media Contact:
Jacqueline Foster
NSP Senior Communications Advisor 902-225-4735