Skip to main content

Hydro One crews assist with power restoration efforts in Baltimore area after wind storm

Working in sweltering heat, nearly 300 utility workers from Ontario and Quebec have joined the massive, painstaking effort to restore electricity to millions of Americans left without power in a heat wave after violent storms hit the eastern seaboard Friday.

About 200 employees from Ontario's Hydro One - mostly power line maintainers, mechanics - left for Maryland, West Virginia., and Washington D.C.

After a 10-hour drive and a safety briefing, they joined the recovery efforts Tuesday, cleaning up fallen branches and repairing broken utility poles, said Hydro One Superintendent Bill Smeaton.

Hydro-Québec also dispatched about 75 linesman to the Bethesda, Md., area to repair lines and reinstall transformers.

They arrived after an 18-hour drive and are based in an emergency tent camp.

They are still assessing how much work they will have to handle and how long they will remain in the U.S., said Hydro-Québec spokesman Mathieu Rouy.

"Major work will be needed. The conditions are difficult because it is more than 40 degrees outdoors."

The crews were sent because Hydro One and Hydro-Québec are part of the North East Mutual Assistance Group, which also includes the utilities of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

The costs will be paid by the host country, Mr. Smeaton said.

The request for assistance came Sunday and the scope of the help from Hydro One and Hydro-Québec was decided during a series of conference calls that afternoon.

Friday's storm arrived with little warning, killing 22 people and knocking out power to three million homes and businesses, so utility companies have had to wait days for extra crews.

Nearly 1.8 million people are still without electricity.

U.S. officials fear the death toll could climb because of the heat and widespread use of generators, which emit fumes that can be dangerous in enclosed spaces.

While a CBC report said NB Power crews will be going to Washington, D.C., utility spokeswoman Melissa Morton said that "at this time, we are not part of the initial response, but we may become involved as the situation in Washington evolves."

With reports from The Canadian Press

Follow related authors and topics

Authors and topics you follow will be added to your personal news feed in Following.

Interact with The Globe