Hunter (left) and Hayden (right) Louwers demonstrate BC Hydro's wind fan which simulates wind between 40-60km/h. (Ian Holmes/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

WIND DEMO

BC Hydro uses giant fan to show dangers of storm season

Nov 27, 2019 | 7:32 AM

NANAIMO — BC Hydro is hoping wind will drive home the messaging on just how impactful winter storms can be.

Ahead of the winter storm season, the utility presented a large fan that produces winds between 40 and 60 kilometres an hour

BC Hydro’s Ted Olynyk said a more visual reminder of potential damages wind causes can inspire people to take action.

“People always thinking it won’t happen or they can be without it. We live in a large seismic area, it’s not just the winter storms that can impact us but if we have a large seismic event, can you survive 72 hours or longer?”

Hydro will have the fan setup in their Weather the Storm booth at the Ladysmith Light Up on Thursday, Nov. 28.

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A recent hydro survey showed 60 per cent of British Columbian’s remain unprepared for storm-related power outages, while only half of those impacted by the December 2018 storm have an emergency kit.

Emergency kits are designed to get people through the first 72 hours without power and should include batteries, water, a first aid kit, medications and portable chargers for cell phones.

“There are going to be more storms, more intense,” Olynyk said. “We’re doing what we can to harden the system and lessen the impact on our customers but ultimately we want the customers to be better prepared so they can withstand an outage.”

Several areas in Victoria and the lower mainland sustained overnight power outages on Wednesday, Nov. 27, with more blustery conditions expected Thursday.

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