Ottawa officials say power can be restored to all in Ottawa in three to four days after a powerful and deadly storm devastated the city on Saturday.
Speaking to the media on Sunday afternoon, Mayor Jim Watson said 24 hours had been difficult, but citizens would have to remain patient.
“With over 170,000 customers without power, not everything can be done in about an hour,” he said. “We have no idea when everyone will regain power. We expect this to happen within the next three to four days. “
A storm on Saturday afternoon hit the city with winds of up to 120km / h, knocking down trees and breaking more than 200 power ladders.
Joseph Mulia of Hydro Ottawa told reporters that about 5,000 customers had recovered by Sunday afternoon, but well over 170,000 customers were still without electricity.
“This consists of about 560 unique outages throughout the service area,” he explained. “The damage assessment is still ongoing. We have done much of this now, but there is still a lot of it in terms of fully assessing the damage to all the areas affected. “
A press release from Hydro Ottawa, released at 6 p.m., said nearly 10,000 customers had been recovered.
Muglia said an order had been placed immediately to replace the hydrocycles and they were in the process of being delivered. He said there were no problems with the supply chain in acquiring the necessary poles.
“The pillars need to be replaced. They cannot be fixed. “There are times when we can fix a pole in a temporary situation, but based on what we’ve seen, especially when you have poles where a few poles have fallen, they need to be replaced,” he said.
Muglia also said it could take three to four days for everyone to return online. Hydro Ottawa prioritizes community infrastructure, such as hospitals, while assessing which customers can be safely recovered without compromising others.
During the media on Sunday, reporters heard that the wastewater treatment plant at the Robert O. Picard Environmental Center had lost electricity, but the service was restored by the end of the press conference.
Long queues at gas stations, fast food outlets and grocery stores in Ottawa and Gatineau have been reported. Several stations were sold without petrol.
Watson asked people to be patient as Hydro Ottawa worked to restore power.
“These crews are working tirelessly and I’m not particularly happy when I see constant attacks on social media by our hydro crews and first aid teams,” he said. “They work from the heart to make sure we get our power back as soon as possible.”
Watson said the city has the resources to deal with the current state of emergency, so no state of emergency is needed at the moment.
“We have all the resources we need right now,” Watson said. “If there was a need to look for additional equipment, I would declare immediately.”
Interruption card for Hydro Ottawa from 17:00 on May 22, 2022 (hydroottawa.com)
A powerful storm spread to the area of the national capital at around 4 pm with a wind of 120 km / h, leaving traces of damaged homes, downed trees and broken hydro poles and wires. The city reported damaged property and fallen trees throughout the city, “especially in the Navan, Stitsville, Maryvale and Hunt Club areas.”
Three deaths have been reported in the Ottawa region after the storm. Ottawa police say a 59-year-old man has died after being hit by a falling tree on a golf course on the Golf Club Way in western Ottawa. The investigation into the death continues.
A 51-year-old woman drowned after her boat capsized on the Ottawa River near Masson-Angers, Que. A 44-year-old man died in the Ottawa Valley after being hit by a falling tree in the town of Greater Madawasca.
Watson says Ottawa City Parks and Foresters are located in the city to clean up the damage.
TERMINATION OF THE BAY IN QUIBEC
Hydro Quebec reports that 76,905 customers are without electricity in Outaouais, at 5 p.m.
There are interruptions throughout Gatineau, including significant interruptions in Aylmer.
There is no information when the power will be restored.
ANSWER POLICE RESPONSE
Ottawa police are asking drivers to avoid traveling if possible and be aware of debris and live wires on the roads.
Several roads remain closed due to fallen trees and water mains.
“The repeated closure of roads and replacement of infrastructure will continue for days,” police said.
Police say they have “maintained intensified operations” in the worst-hit areas.
“Uniform patrols have been increased in most affected areas and will continue,” police said in an update Sunday morning.
Police say there have been few incidents that need to be reported; however, there was a break and entry on Maryvale Road.
“Officers reacted to the interruption and entry into the 1600 block of Merivale Rd. Just before 11 pm and arrested a person leaving the building,” police said.
Ottawa police received approximately 2,400 service calls between 3pm on Saturday and 11am on Sunday morning.
There were 2,807 calls to 911 on Saturday. There are nearly 900 calls to 911 on a typical Saturday.
CITY OPENING OF EMERGENCY RECEPTION CENTERS
The city of Ottawa is opening emergency reception centers for residents affected by a severe storm on Saturday. Mayor Jim Watson said the following sites would be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day.
The following sites are open to power for chargers, showers and toilets:
The following facility offers power for charging devices and toilets:
The city says that food services will be offered in additional centers in the coming hours and days.
LONG LINES
Long queues at gas stations, grocery and fast food stores and grocery stores were reported across Ottawa on Sunday as people sought to stock up on supplies.
In the jug, long queues formed on the ultramarine of Hazeldean Road, where motorists filled the gas tank and jugs.
Long queue for gas at Ultamar on Hazeldean Road on Sunday. (Annette Görner / CTV News Ottawa)
In western Quebec, there were long lines at gas stations as drivers tried to fill up. Joel Haslam of Ottawa’s CTV News said that at the only gas station in Chelsea, Quebec, only one pump was open and only cash.
Residents line up at the only gas station in Chelsea. One pump is open and only in cash. (Joel Haslam / CTV News Ottawa)
In College Square, several restaurants had long lines as people searched for coffee and food.
GATINO PARK
The Cpaital National Commission is asking people to avoid Gatineau Park after the storm caused damage to the park.
The NCC says all parks except Philippe Lake Parkway and Pioneers and Pike Lake Trail have been closed at Gatineau Park until further notice.
“We ask users to avoid Gatineau Park and Greenbelt and remain patient while our teams secure and clean our sites,” the NCC said.
PROPERTIES OF THE NATIONAL CAPITAL COMMISSION IN OTTAWA
The National Capital Commission says all Greenbelt sectors are closed until the next order after the storm.
“After Saturday’s storm, there were fallen or dangerous trees across the region. NCC teams are working hard to assess and secure our sites,” the NCC said Saturday.
“We ask users to avoid Gatineau Park and Greenbelt and remain patient while our teams secure and clean our sites.”
PRELIMINARY VOTE
Pre-polling stations have been closed for several rides in Ottawa and east of the capital on Sunday after the storm. Here are the sections that are closed on Sunday.
Carlton
- CARDELREC Recreation Center on Shea Road in Stittsville
- Meadow Drive Greenley Community Center
- Shoreline Drive Rideauview Community Center in Gloucester
Kanata-Carlton
- Kanata Recreation Complex on Charlie Rodgers Square in Stitsville
- West Carleton Public Complex on Carp Road in Kinburn
Nepean
- Walter Baker Sports Center on Malvern Drive
Orleans
- All polling stations are open
Ottawa center
- All polling stations are open
Ottawa South
- All polling stations are open
Ottawa Vanie
- All polling stations are open
Ottawa West – Nepian
- Ron Colbus Lakeside Center on Greenview Avenue
Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
- Hawkesbury Mall return office
- Maple Hall – Cumberland Lions Club on Old Montreal Road in Cumberland
STORM INVESTIGATION
Western University’s Northern Tornadoes Project will send a team to South Ottawa today to investigate whether the tornado hit the region.
“It is expected that more places with potential tornado damage will be visited tomorrow, and probably after.”
You can report to the Western University Northern Tornadoes Project.
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