Severe Storm Leaves 10,000 N.B. Power Customers Without Electricity

In the wake of a devastating wind and rain storm, approximately 10,000 customers of N.B. Power in New Brunswick, Canada, are grappling with power outages. The tempest, which initially left 129,000 people in the dark, struck on Monday, and restoration efforts have been underway ever since. So far, power has been restored to 117,000 customers, a significant reduction from the initial impact.

Regions and Restoration Efforts

The remaining power outages are primarily concentrated in the Charlotte Southwest and Central York Sunbury regions. Here, crews from N.B. Power, totaling 342 in number, are working relentlessly to restore power. They are focusing their efforts in Woodstock, Fredericton, and St. Stephen, despite the challenges posed by rural locations and difficult access. For those outages with listed estimated restoration times, power is expected to return by late Friday or Saturday.

School Closures and Weather Conditions

As a direct result of these power outages, two schools in the Anglophone South School District have been forced to close their doors. Additionally, two other schools are closed due to hazardous road conditions. As for weather conditions, Fredericton experienced wind speeds of up to 100 km/h during the storm. Current temperatures in the province are in the negative double digits, with wind chills around -17 C to -18 C.

Commitment to Restoration

In the face of this adversity, N.B. Power remains committed to restoring power to all its customers by Christmas. The company also urges the public to exercise caution and show understanding towards the crews working through the holiday period, who are working tirelessly to restore normalcy.