'We've just been abandoned': Pictou County residents losing patience after being without power for 10 days
Ten days after post-tropical storm Fiona knocked out trees, roofs and power, much of what came down still needs to be picked up.
In Nova Scotia's Pictou County, crews are running in repair lines but many people are running out of patience.
“We’ve just been abandoned it feels like,” said Toney River, N.S., resident Sylvie Rosewood, who drove in to Pictou Monday to use power and internet at a comfort centre organized by the New Horizons Club.
Rosewood's house was hit by a tree but she can’t find anyone to move it because it’s tangled in a power line. According to her, private companies have said they can’t tackle it because of the wire, but Nova Scotia Power has said it’s up to homeowners to take care of it.
As of Monday, Rosewood said she hadn’t seen any power crews in her area.
“Where are they? It’s been nine days. Like crazy,” she said.
Down the road in Toney River, Margaret Murray is using her wood stove to stay warm.
Outside, the wind blew down her barn and took with it 3,000 bales of hay.
She said insurance won’t cover it and now she fears she and her husband will have to sell their cattle.
“We’re only covered by fire,” Murray said. “What was the sense of paying insurance if you’re not going to be covered?"
She’s optimistic power could be back on by mid-week and said someone from Nova Scotia Power called her to say it should be on again then. Even with a positive attitude, the whole experience has been incredibly overwhelming.
“My youngest daughter passed away two years ago and that was desperate hard. And now this has brought everything all back,” she said.
Along the highway between Pictou and Toney River, arborists have come from as far away as Ontario.
"We’ve been regaining access for companies to get machinery in,” said Jacob St. Pierre with Tim Allen’s Tree Service.
From Pictou to Antigonish, N.S., the military is making rounds to check in on people.
"We see you. We’re here for you. We’re working hard to support the government institutions,” said Maj. Stephen Misner, the task force commander for Task Force North Nova Scotia.
Pictou Mayor Jim Ryan notes power in parts of the town is starting to come back on. He said it’s been a trying time for residents.
“I expect it’ll probably be a little while until people are comfortable that the remnants of Fiona have passed,” Ryan said.
Jacqueline Klaus, a spokesperson for Nova Scotia Power, said the company knows how difficult it is to be without power for this long.
“Due to some of the more extreme damage in the hardest hit areas of the province, repairs and restorations in many cases can take several crews and several hours – even up to a day – to complete,” she said.
In Pictou County, the utility has seen the most amount of damage in the coastal areas, including Toney River.
“Damage is due primarily to hundreds of broken poles and downed lines due to falling trees and trees on power lines, as well as a significant number of damaged metre masts in region,” she said.
“These restorations are complex, however, crews are working as quickly as possible to safely restore power to our customers.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW Keeping these exotic pets is 'cruel' and 'dangerous,' Canadian animal advocates say
Canadian pet owners are finding companionship beyond dogs and cats. Tigers, alligators, scorpions and tarantulas are among some of the exotic pets they are keeping in private homes, which pose risks to public safety and animal welfare, advocates say.
NEW Life got in the way of one woman's reunion with her father, but a DNA test gained her a family
Anne Marie Cavner was the closest she'd ever been to meeting her biological father, but then life dealt her a blow. From an unexpected loss to a host of new relationships, a DNA test changed her life, and she doesn't regret a thing.
Doctors ask Liberal government to reconsider capital gains tax change
The Canadian Medical Association is asking the federal government to reconsider its proposed changes to capital gains taxation, arguing it will affect doctors' retirement savings.
How quietly promised law changes in the 2024 federal budget could impact your day-to-day life
The 2024 federal budget released last week includes numerous big spending promises that have garnered headlines. But, tucked into the 416-page document are also series of smaller items, such as promising to amend the law regarding infant formula and to force banks to label government rebates, that you may have missed.
Quebec farmers have been protesting since December. Is anyone listening?
Upset about high interest rates, growing paperwork and heavy regulatory burdens, protesting farmers have become a familiar sight across Quebec since December.
'Catch-and-kill' strategy to be a focus as testimony resumes in Trump hush money case
A veteran tabloid publisher was expected to return to the witness stand Tuesday in Donald Trump's historic hush money trial.
Quebec Health Department reports 28 cases of eye damage linked to solar eclipse
Quebec's Health Department says it has received 28 reports of eye damage related to the April 8 total solar eclipse that passed over southern parts of the province.
Psychologist becomes first person in Peru to die by euthanasia after fighting in court for years
A Peruvian psychologist who suffered from an incurable disease that weakened her muscles and had her confined to her bed for several years, died by euthanasia, her lawyer said Monday, becoming the first person in the country to obtain the right to die with medical assistance.
Diver pinned under water by an alligator figured he had choice. Lose his arm or lose his life
An alligator attacked a diver on April 15 as he surfaced from his dive, nearly out of air. His tank emptied with the gator's jaws crushing the arm he put up in defence.