Nova Scotia Power crew on the ground assisting with power restoration in Tampa
Power line technicians from Nova Scotia are on the ground in Tampa, Fla., assisting in power restoration after Hurricanes Helene and Milton barreled across the state, leaving extensive damage and millions in the dark.
A crew of 35 people from Nova Scotia Power arrived in Tampa this weekend and began work Saturday to restore electricity to some of the impacted homes and businesses after Milton hit last week.
"On the ground, we're seeing a lot of trees down and wires down... a lot of destruction," Paul Breski, restoration lead for the province's utility, said during a virtual media briefing Sunday.
Breski said crews are working 16-hour shifts dealing with downed trees and splicing lines to reconnect power.
The Nova Scotia crew joins hundreds of Canadian line workers who have travelled to the southern United States to help with restoration since Hurricane Helene hit in late September.
Breski said the impacts of Hurricane Milton in Tampa appear similar to what Nova Scotia experienced during post-tropical storm Fiona in 2022.
What's very different, Breski said, is the type of wildlife crews may encounter when working on reconnecting power.
“Back home, ticks are the big thing we worry about when you go in the woods, not snakes and gators. So it's a bit of an adjustment on that."
Breski said some of the wooded areas are very dense, and workers are using machetes to cut through thick vegetation to locate lines.
It's not yet clear how long the Nova Scotia crews will be working in Tampa, Breski said, adding "this is not a sprint, this is a marathon."
Crews have been welcomed warmly by locals, Breski said. "People down here are very friendly and happy to see us."
Floridians recovering from Hurricane Milton, many of whom were journeying home after fleeing hundreds of miles to escape the storm, spent much of Saturday searching for gas as a fuel shortage gripped the state.
Gov. Ron DeSantis told reporters Saturday morning that the state opened three fuel distribution sites and planned to open several more. Residents can get 10 gallons (37.85 liters) each, free of charge, he said.
"Obviously as power gets restored ... and the Port of Tampa is open, you're going to see the fuel flowing. But in the meantime, we want to give people another option," DeSantis said.
Officials were replenishing area gas stations with the state's fuel stockpiles and provided generators to stations that remained without power.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2024.
With files from The Associated Press.
For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Children's doctors reporting unusual increase in walking pneumonia cases in Canada
Children's hospitals across the country are seeing an unusual increase in the number of serious and more complicated cases of walking pneumonia affecting much younger patients, according to medical experts.
Teachers in Newfoundland and Labrador say violence is on the rise, averaging 22 incidents per school day
School staff are being struck more often, students are fighting more frequently, and police are increasingly being called to school grounds, according to data compiled and released this week by the Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers' Association.
'One of the most talked about words of 2024': This is Collins Dictionary's word of the year
Collins Dictionary has declared 'brat' -- the album title that became a summer-living ideal -- its 2024 word of the year.
Canada and the U.S. share the world's longest border. Here's how the election could affect it
Spend just a few minutes at the border between Canada and the U.S. – the world's longest – and you'll see why trade is a vital lifeline.
B.C. landlord who evicted longtime tenant, hiked rent and re-listed unit ordered to pay $16K
A landlord from B.C.’s Lower Mainland who evicted a longtime tenant only to rent out the same unit months later for more money has been ordered to compensate him $16,480.
'Stand by your sons, daughters': New Brunswick woman named national Silver Cross Mother
Maureen Anderson, who lost both her sons to their overseas service in the Canadian Armed Forces, has been named this year's national Silver Cross Mother.
Canada's youngest dangerous offender, who sexually assaulted baby, seeks prison leave
A convict who became Canada 's youngest designated dangerous offender after sexually assaulting a three-month-old baby is seeking escorted leave from prison to attend Indigenous cultural ceremonies in Vancouver.
opinion Prince Harry, Meghan Markle take a different tack this time to the U.S. election
With a divided electorate about to head to the polls after a dramatic presidential campaign, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have taken a more neutral approach in the 2024 U.S. general election compared to 2020, writes royal commentator Afua Hagan in her column for CTVNews.ca.
Heidi Klum and Janelle Monae wear elaborate E.T. costumes for their Halloween parties
Heidi Klum and Janelle Monae opted for out-of-this-world Halloween costumes this year — both choosing to dress as the stubby alien E.T. for their parties on opposite coasts.