For four days, Gwen Stuckey had 90 extra visitors in her living room after a late spring snowstorm cut off the power to about 5,000 people in central Alberta.
Stuckey’s young chicks were moved into cardboard boxes in front of the wood-burning stove to keep them alive. The stove was also where Stuckey cooked meals for four days.
“It was an experience,” said Stuckey of Ohaton, Alta.
A snowstorm cut power to most rural customers from Chipman to Camrose in the evening of April 18. Heavy, wet snow pulled down 35 kilo-metres of wire and poles in the Battle River Rural Electrification Area and 88 km of line and 225 poles in an area serviced by Fortis Alberta. Most customers had power restored after four days.
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Colleen Musselman, general manager of Battle River REA, said it was the worst snowstorm since 1986.
“It hit hard enough that it took out everything in its path,” said Musselman.
Hundreds of poles snapped off or were pushed close to the ground from the weight of the wet snow.
Some live wires dangled over highways and rural roads, making travel dangerous.
“We first had to deal with the critical sites,” said Musselman. About 1,000 REA customers were without power. Extra crews and equipment from across the province were brought in to help repair the lines.
Stuckey was surprised when the electricity returned on the night of April 22. With so many poles down, she was mentally prepared to be without power for several more days.
“When it came on, my grandson said ‘Grandma, there’s light.’ He wasn’t enjoying living by candlelight.”
Dairy farmers Bo and Gwen Arvidsson of Round Hill were still without power the morning of April 23. A tractor-powered generator created enough power to pump water for the cows and electricity for the milking machine most of the time. One day the 55 cows were only milked once.
“It’s a real struggle with no power,” said Gwen, adding they’re never really prepared for the hassles involved.
Without electricity there’s no water for the cattle or house, no heat or light for the house and food in the fridge and freezer must be tossed out.
“It’s really quite stressful.”
A state of emergency was declared for Beaver County’s 3,500 residents, including the Town of Tofield and Village of Ryley, said Rick Ells, director of disaster services for the county.
Two drop-in centres were set up for residents who were without heat or water.
“It was a real concern,” said Ells, whose farm was without power for four days.
Municipalities must now begin to assess the damage, including that caused by the power companies using heavy equipment on wet, muddy roads, he said.
