Hydro Ottawa estimates it has restored power to 70,000 customers, but 110,000 customers are still without power. On the Outaouais side, more than 32,000 citizens are patiently waiting for their electronic devices and household appliances to work again.
In Eastern Ontario, it is estimated that more than 45,000 people are still without electricity at Arnprior, Brock, KingstonOrléans, Vankleek Hill et Winchester.
“Don’t call 311 unless it’s urgent,” Watson said.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Patrick Louiseize
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A few more days without electricity in Ottawa
At a press conference Monday afternoon, Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson reminded citizens to be patient. Indeed, it is estimated that the breakdowns should be resolved within two to four days.
The mayor calls on the residents of Ottawa to watch over their neighbours, to be on the lookout for people in need in their community. He must have himself witnessed great mutual aid among Ottawans.
In Ottawa, the damage is still very visible more than 36 hours after the storm.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Gabriel Le Marquand Perreault
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Hydro Ottawa crews are on duty 24 hours a day to restore power. Reinforcements from the greater Toronto area, Kingston, but also from New Brunswick will come to lend a hand. Joseph Muglia, director of distribution operations for Hydro Ottawa, said 163 electricity pylons were still damaged, which explains the high number of power outages, as well as the complexity of field interventions.
The operation is also larger than during the 2018 tornado or even the 1998 ice storm, said Hydro Ottawa. Although last Saturday’s storm was very brief, it affected all areas of the City of Ottawa.
Mr. Muglia asks citizens to remain vigilant and not to approach Hydro Ottawa teams for safety reasons. In addition, no one should approach within 10 meters of a fallen electrical wire.
The restoration of power is also done in order of priority, he explained. However, most hospitals, as well as sewage treatment plants and the Ottawa airport have all been re-powered.
Several power cables fell during the passage of the storm in Ottawa (archives).
Photo : Hydro Ottawa
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Outaouais residents will also have to be patient. In an interview, Hydro-Quebec spokeswoman Caroline Des Rosiers said that the state-owned company is not skimping on the means to repair the breakdown. On the other hand, the task is considerable.
Our teams find that there are certain breakdowns that are more difficult to repair because of fallen trees and branches on access roads. This requires upstream work before the electrical work
she said.
This may explain why we are unable to estimate recovery times.
In Outaouais, in the Hull sector, an uprooted tree considerably changed the appearance of this backyard (archives).
Photo : Radio-Canada / Nathalie Tremblay
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Opening of emergency centers
In the meantime, the City of Ottawa has opened a dozen emergency centers to provide access to bathrooms, electricity and even food for people who no longer have it at home.
In Eastern Ontario, the arena of Clarence Creek serves as a shelter for residents.
In Chelsea, in the Outaouais, the Municipality uses the Meredith Center to offer the same services. Centers are also open in Cantley and La Pêche.
For its part, the City of Gatineau did not offer services to its residents over the weekend. On the other hand, it opened its first respite centers on Monday at the start of the afternoon.
The showers at the Paul Pelletier aquatic centers and the Sports Center are now accessible. You can also use charging stations for phones, tablets and computers.
All neighborhoods were affected
Since the storm hit all neighborhoods
of his city, the mayor of Ottawa, Jim Watson, multiplies the interventions on the ground and in the media.
Throughout his experience at the town hall and since his stay as a deputy on the provincial scene, he has experienced many natural disasters.
The ice storm in 1998, I was mayor during this disaster. Each time, I am proud of the response from firefighters, paramedics and the public. There is a lot of generosity
he recalled in an interview Monday morning.
Mayor Jim Watson traveled to Stittsville on Sunday May 22 to meet with affected citizens.
Photo : Radio-Canada / Rosalie Sinclair
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To citizens who need help, Jim Watson reminds us of the importance of properly sorting out urgent calls.911 when a person is in danger, the311 when no one is in danger. Don’t call the311 if not urgent”,”text”:”911 when someone is in danger, 311 when no one is in danger. Do not call 311 if it is not urgent”}}”>911 when someone is in danger, 311 when no one is in danger. Don’t call 311 if it’s not urgentasked the mayor.
One of the city’s priorities at the moment, in addition to clearing debris from the roads and grounds, is to collect rotten food due to the lack of power. “It’s a public health issue,” said the mayor. Indeed, containers will be deployed Tuesday in different areas of Ottawa so that residents can go and get rid of their waste themselves, without having to wait for collection from the city.
Traffic in Hawkesbury
In Eastern Ontario, several towns suffered the wrath of Mother Nature over the past weekend. Hawkesbury is one of them. Since then, a good portion of the city has been without electricity.
This caused heavy traffic in many local businesses. Mayor Paula Assaly saw it.
There is a lot of enthusiasm for the purchase of gasoline or prepared meals. So there are gas stations, restaurants and outfitters that are starting to run out [de ressources].
In Eastern Ontario, Hawkesbury also had to face the storm and its consequences (archives).
Photo : Radio-Canada / Denis Babin
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Four storm-related deaths in the greater Ottawa area
So far, the storm has claimed the lives of at least ten people in Quebec and Ontario.
In the greater National Capital Region, four residents died as a result of severe thunderstorms.
A 51-year-old woman perished in the Ottawa River, in the Masson-Angers sector. His pontoon capsized. Another person was injured.
This white car was crushed by a tree on Saturday evening in Ottawa (archives).
Photo : Radio-Canada / Rosalie Sinclair
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In west Ottawa, an 80-year-old woman died Sunday afternoon after being hit by a tree near the town of Lanark.
A 59-year-old man was taken to his last breath after being hit by a tree while at the Canadian Golf and Country Clubin Ottawa.
In Renfrew County, a tree struck a 44-year-old man, who died.
With information from Gabriel Le Marquand Perreault and Emmanuelle Poisson
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