Strong winds accompanied by brief periods of heavy rain ripped through the region on Sunday afternoon causing widespread power outages and extensive damage from fallen tree limbs. Strong gusting winds continued throughout Sunday afternoon and overnight.
According to Art Skidmore, president and CEO of Halton Hills Hydro Inc., the power outages began at 2:37 pm.“Our distribution system suffered significant damage with numerous lines down, trees down and broken poles throughout our community,” he said. “Halton Hills Hydro is served by seven feeder locations and four of them were affected by the outages. Limehouse, Glen Williams and Dublin Line [were] particularly impacted with tree damage.”
Skidmore added that power was restored to most customers by 3:00 am Monday morning, but several hundred customers in the hardest hit areas, including Limehouse and Scotch Block, remained without power until late Monday afternoon and evening. Full service was returned to the entire area before midnight.
Skidmore credits his staff for the timely restoration of hydro service. “We had 75% of our operations staff work 16 hours yesterday [Sunday]. We have three crews from a contractor in today [Monday], and all our staff, if required, will put in another 16 hour day.”
According to Halton Hills communications director Alexandra Fuller, Public Works was notified of about 50 limbs and trees down on roadways.
“Many of these involved hydro and more in addition may have been reported to hydro. Public works called in four staff on Sunday afternoon and continued with shift staff overnight clearing obstruction from roads,” she said.
The Public Works Department also received six traffic light calls that were addressed by the Town's maintenance contractor. On Monday, six Public Works crews began work on clearing debris from roads and parks. The Town's forestry contractor was also called in.
“Parks and cemeteries have been inspected and approximately 20 trees or major limbs will require removal. Trails are in the process of being inspected and we anticipate another 20 trail clean-up locations. PW staff have started inspection of rural roads for unreported trees or limbs posing a risk. We roughly estimate there will be another 100 tree issues to resolve,” added Fuller.
“We are not aware of any injuries at this time. Heavy-hit areas seem to be Limehouse and Wildwood Road (mostly private trees). There are damages to private buildings and fences from wind and trees,” she said. “If weather permits, the majority of road and park clean-up should be completed by the end of next week.”
Neighbouring communities of Rockwood and Erin were also heavily impacted by the storm. Some residents in those areas remain without hydro as we go to press.
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