Close to 12,000 customers in P.E.I., N.S. still without power two weeks after Fiona
Close to 12,000 customers are still without power in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island two weeks after post-tropical storm Fiona made landfall in the region on Sept. 23.
As of 4 p.m. Friday, Nova Scotia Power was reporting 819 active outages affecting 2,414 customers, with most outages in Pictou County and Colchester County.
It is estimated power will be restored to all Nova Scotians by Sunday, though Nova Scotia Power said in a Thursday afternoon press release it is possible some individual customers could be without power beyond the weekend given the extensive damage.
In a Twitter update Friday morning, the utility said there were more than 1,400 crew members working in the field.
In a press release issued Friday afternoon, Nova Scotia Power said progress is being made on single customer outages.
“We continue to move more crews around the northeast as they complete work in other areas,” said Lia MacDonald, the utility's northeast emergency operations centre lead, in the release. “There are now almost 1,000 people on the ground in the northeast part of the province working to safely get the lights back on for those remaining customers.”
The ongoing outages and restoration efforts prompted the Nova Scotia government to declare a state of emergency in nine counties in the northern area of Nova Scotia on Wednesday.
The province says the state of emergency will allow the military to perform civilian road work and provide liability coverage. It will remain in effect for 14 days, unless the government terminates or extends it.
PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND
On Prince Edward Island, 9,521 Maritime Electric customers were still without power as of Friday afternoon. The largest concentration of customers remains in the Charlottetown area.
A news release from the province late Thursday afternoon said all Charlottetown schools will reopen Friday.
In a tweet Friday, the city of Charlottetown said Fire Station #1 on Kent Street is open again from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. for anyone in need of Wi-Fi, water, snacks or electricity.
The provincial government has also compiled a list of reception centres open across the island. Community supports, including food banks, are also still available to all residents.
P.E.I. residents can contact the Canadian Red Cross at 1-800-863-6582, or through their website, if they have any immediate needs.
In a news release Friday afternoon, the province said more branches and trees may fall and curbside debris may move onto roads due wind and rain in the weekend forecast.
As of Friday, more than 4,000 trees have been cut and 137 roadways opened by the Canadian Armed Forces.
More than 20,000 Island households have applied to the Canadian Red Cross for $250 in financial support, according to the province.
The province says an estimated $60 million dollars has been allocated for programs and services for residents, community organizations, small businesses, and municipalities, as well as anticipated clean-up and repair costs.
Further financial supports for primary industries is expected in the coming weeks.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
WATCH Video shows dramatic police takedown of carjacking suspects chased through parking lot north of Toronto
Police have released video footage of a dramatic takedown of a group of teens wanted in connection with an attempted carjacking in Markham earlier this month.
After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
DEVELOPING G7 warns of new sanctions against Iran as world reacts to apparent Israeli drone attack
Group of Seven foreign ministers warned of new sanctions against Iran on Friday for its drone and missile attack on Israel, and urged both sides to avoid an escalation of the conflict.
WHO likely to issue wider alert on contaminated cough syrup
The World Health Organization is likely to issue a wider warning about contaminated Johnson and Johnson-made children's cough syrup found in Nigeria last week, it said in an email.
Advocacy groups speak out against domestic violence comments by Nova Scotia minister
Several Nova Scotia groups that assist women are speaking out against comments on domestic violence by Justice Minister Brad Johns, and at least one is calling for his dismissal.
A couple lost their wedding rings during the ceremony. Two strangers found a fitting solution
Every good wedding has to have one teensy, tiny crisis.
'It was all my savings': Ontario woman loses $15K to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
Families to receive Canada Child Benefit payment on Friday
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.