New estimate says some power outages could last until after Christmas
“We’re winning the war,†Toronto Hydro CEO Anthony Haines declared Monday morning, even though 225,000 homes and businesses were still without heat and light across the city.
And some of them could stay in the dark until past Christmas and into the weekend, Haines warned.
Crews working through the night restored power to 75,000 homes and businesses in Toronto, he said. But frustrated and chilled hydro workers saw some of their repairs undone as fixed lines “came unfixed†by falling trees and heavy ice, he said.
That eased up by morning. “We’re seeing some very positive outcomes in our restoration efforts,†said Haines.
“Every few minutes, another feeder if coming back up,†representing thousands of customers, he said.
He said it was impossible to predict when everyone might have their power restored, despite the extra crews coming in — including one worker who retired Friday and was back at work Saturday and others who cancelled Christmas holidays to pitch in.
“Prudently, right now, we should expect the worst.†While Hydro knew about 100 feeder lines still down by 8 a.m. Monday, “we haven’t had a chance to go down each and every street†to determine every place without electricity.
Temperatures were expected to keep falling to a low of minus 10 overnight and reach only a high of minus 9 on Tuesday and minus 5 on Wednesday. Overnight lows on Tuesday were forecast to be minus 15.
The city has opened nine warming centres scattered across the city for those shivering in the dark. Toronto Hydro was now speaking to the Toronto District School Board about opening up more centres in school gymnasiums, Haines said.
“The Red Cross is assisting the city of Toronto in the warming centres and overnight we had 10 warming shelters across Toronto and 323 people who came to those shelters overnight,†said Karen Snider, media manger for the Red Cross.
“The Red Cross moved in supplies last night. We moved in cots, blankets, hygiene kits, just a simple kit with things like soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, things that people might forget when they are leaving so they can freshen up a little bit.â€
She also said they are providing warm meals and water. They had assisted another 256 people in shelters across the GTA in several shelters.
Haines himself was “in the dark, in the cold†without power in his home, he said.
The utility company described the ice story as‘far worse than imagined.†Forestry crews have been brought in to help cut up and move massive tree limbs littering streets and roadways.
Toronto Hydro was also asking utility crews from the U.S. to help with the massive cleanup and restoration effort.
“We believe the worst weather is over,†Mayor Rob Ford said. “It’s business as usual here at city hall. We are not declaring a state of emergency. If the province wants to help out, we are happy to take it.â€
He rebuffed suggestions he should have declared a state of emergency, saying the 2013 ice storm was far less severe than a hurricane or the Quebec ice storm.
Declaring a state of emergency would transfer power to Deputy Mayor Norm Kelly and would require the province to provide help. Kelly said on CP24 “there is a considerable feeling†a state of emergency should be declared.
Councillor Denzil-Minnan Wong said that the city is talking to the province, which has already provided help with “policing issues,†especially on Highway 401. The province has also been asked to help clear fallen trees and branches.
Toronto East General Hospital was back to full power Monday morning and Sunnybroook Hospital should be by the afternoon, Ford said. About 63 Toronto community housing buildings were still without power.
Asked whether Toronto could have better prepared for a storm of this magnitude, Ford replied, “It's hard to prepare for Mother Nature.â€
Toronto Hydro has been taking specific measures to combat climate change, such as more aggressive tree pruning and sturdier lines, Haines said. The storm “would have been worse†if not for those measures.
Toronto Fire Services has received about seven times the normal volume of emergency calls, and has had to put out a number of fires started by people heating their homes by “unconventional means.â€
HydroOne said it had around 100,000 homes and businesses without power throughout the province, particularly around Vaughan; Enersource is reporting around 539 customers are without power in Mississauga.
GO Transit Sunday night announced an adjusted winter storm schedule on Monday, providing additional train and bus service for customers on routes that include Lakeshore East and West, Milton and Richmond Hill.
Full streetcar service resumed late Sunday with some delays and some bus routes were cancelled because of road conditions, including the Davisville, Rosedale and Yonge Street buses.
More than a dozen other bus routes were on diversions because of icy roads and blocked streets.
Service gaps remain on the subway system however. There was no service between Woodbine and Kennedy stations on the Bloor-Danforth line and North York on the University line and on the entire Sheppard line.
The Scarborough RT line was to be back in operation by late morning, said TTC chief Andy Byford. . Shuttle buses were trying to ferry passengers in the interim.
Several flights in and out of Pearson International Airport scheduled for Monday have been delayed or cancelled, with officials asking passengers to check their flight statuses with their airline and give themselves additional time to make said flights.
All TDSB, TCDSB and Peel District School Board facilities, including child-care centres, would be closed on Monday and Tuesday. Durham Catholic school board child-care centres were also closed, as were a number of YMCAs in the region.
York University rescheduled exams initially due to be held on Monday for Jan. 11.
Toronto Zoo also remained closed.
A special weather statement remains in effect for the City of Toronto, with moderate winds and colder temperatures expected over the next few days
