You can expect more weather-related power outages as BC Hydro says trees and vegetation weakened by a multi-year drought can amplify the impact of storm weather.
While drought levels have improved across B.C., particularly in the Southern Interior, there is still an elevated risk of power outages when a storm hits.
“We’re seeing that there is damage to trees, roots and soil because of this drought,” said Mary Anne Coules, BC Hydro Community Relations.
“That makes trees more vulnerable to wind and stormy conditions. That means that could fall over and cause power outages.”
While drought impacts have been less severe in the Kootenays, storms have still taken a toll on the region.
“We have seen two significant wind storms since August. In late August, there was a significant storm that impacted our customers across the southern Interior,” said Coules.
“At the peak of that event, we had about 20,000 customers without power. This included customers across the region, particularly in the Columbia Valley. We had crews working around the clock to restore power, but some were still left without power for an extended period of time.”
Residents in other areas were hit hard by a different storm.
“We had another wind storm that impacted our customers in the West Kootenay recently. It left about 3,500 customers without power,” said Coules.
“Due to the extent of the damage, with trees down across power lines and broken poles, there were some customers left without power for almost 72 hours.”
BC Hydro says the recent storms highlight the need for the public to be ready in case of a prolonged power outage.
“We want folks to be prepared to be without power for at least 72 hours,” said Coules.
“You’ll want an emergency kit with flashlights, water, food and backup batteries. You’ll also want to come up with a plan for your family in the event of an extended outage.”
Coules said Kootenay residents seem to be better prepared for outages than average B.C. residents.
“Across the province, less than 40 per cent of our customers have an emergency kit at home, but that number is a lot higher in the southern Interior, with about 60 per cent having an emergency kit,” said Coules.
If you see a downed power line, you should assume it is live, stay at least 10 metres away and call 9-1-1.
You can find more details on staying safe amid a power outage along with a preparation checklist here.
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