It's that time of year! People are advised to prepare for potential power outages as fall progresses.  (File photo/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By NanaimoNewsNOW

Take precautions

BC Hydro reminds customers to be prepared with storm season approaching

Sep 26, 2024 | 3:54 PM

NANAIMO — Despite extensive prep work through the warmer months, worsening winter weather still increases the chance of serious power outages, according to the province’s Crown utility.

Vegetation management is a main part of BC Hydro’s work through the summer and early fall, which involves clipping branches and clearing space away from lines, however crews can only do so much.

BC Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder said wind picking up in many parts of the province this week easily send drought-weakened trees falling on power lines.

“The first windstorm of the season is usually busier because the vegetation is overgrown and ready to fall in many cases and there’s the most vegetation at that time of course because it hasn’t fallen in subsequent storms.”

Inclement weather knocked out power to thousands of BC Hydro customers regionally last year, including an unusual blast of pre-Halloween snowfall.

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Winds then elevated in November, wreaking havoc to portions of the South Coast, Rieder said.

“The first windstorm of the season left about 235,000 customers without power,” Rieder said of the November event.

People are reminded to have at-home emergency kits prepared in case the power goes out.

Rieder pointed to a recent survey stating only around half of respondents were prepared for storm season, even with the increased frequency and severity of storms.

While no wind warnings are in the forecast locally, southeast gusts ranging between 30 and 50 kilometers an hour are expected in the mid Vancouver Island region Thursday evening, according to Environment Canada.

-with files from Bill Nation, 97.3 FM The Eagle

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