Almost 21,000 homes and businesses in Manitoba are suffering from lack of power early this week, following a snowstorm that hit the province so hard that Premier Brain Pallister declared a state of emergency.
Pallister made the state of emergency declaration on Sunday, allowing utility crews to access private land and even ask for help from neighbouring provinces.
In a statement to the public earlier this week, Manitoba Hydro CEO Jay Grewal remarked that in some parts of Manitoba, there were “more lines and poles down than standing.”
“Our crews are out there working hard, 16 hours a day, doing their best to restore the power,” Grewal said, mentioning that his company has already sourced towers from suppliers in Ontario.
A release from Manitoba Hydro cautioned that it would take days to repair the damage caused by the storm.
The snowstorm fell down hard on much of the province last Thursday, persisting through Friday. HuffPost Canada reported that over a million Manitoba Hydro customers lost power as the weather event destroyed tree limbs and power lines alike.
While the power issue is being addressed, Manitoba has issued another warning that rivers in the area have been rising due to the additional precipitation. The provincial government is monitoring water levels as the snow begins to melt.
