What happens in a community when they are on their fourth day without power and then they get over 30 cm of snow overnight?
Turns out they really show what B次元官网网址渃ommunityB次元官网网址� means.
Zeballos has been without power on and off since Monday, and like the rest of the Island they have received more snow in one day than they have in years. However, according to Mayor Julie Colborne, that has not put a damper on peopleB次元官网网址檚 community spirit. If anything, it has made the sense of community in Zeballos even stronger.
B次元官网网址淚snB次元官网网址檛 it amazing how the community just pulls together and does stuff for their neighbours?B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e got people donating fuel and people are getting things to their neighbours. IB次元官网网址檓 just astounded by the kindness of the strangers and neighbours alike.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淥ur hearts are with Tahsis, theyB次元官网网址檙e in the exact same position as us, and our hearts go out to them,B次元官网网址� she said.
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Zeballos and neighbouring community Tahsis are fairly remote on Vancouver IslandB次元官网网址檚 west coast. In the best of times, food security is an issue for villagers, whose closest grocery store is in Campbell River. Now with the roads closed, people have to turn to each other for necessary supplies.
However, SRD protective services coordinator Shaun Koopman isnB次元官网网址檛 too worried about villagers in Tahsis.
B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 live in Tahsis if you have to go to Starbucks,B次元官网网址� Koopman said. B次元官网网址淚 am not worried about the residents up there.B次元官网网址�
The emergency response in the communities has been aided by the Strathcona Regional DistrictB次元官网网址檚 Emergency Operations Centre. Since things are happening so quickly, people have been trying to find off-the-cuff solutions to the issues. One idea was for a helicopter to bring food supplies in to the Zeballos warming centre, but because of the inclement weather that idea didnB次元官网网址檛 work out. Instead a barge with food and fuel has been donated and will be arriving in Zeballos this afternoon. Colborne said that since people have stepped up, the village should be fine for food for the day at least, and hopes that the roads get cleared in the meantime, allowing food shipments to come in.
B次元官网网址淭here will be supplies brought to us somehow,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e advised people not to travel on the road because itB次元官网网址檚 better to let those guys do their jobs. TheyB次元官网网址檙e out there plowing and trying to keep it open for us for essentials. Somehow, some way we are going to get medicines and food for the warming centre. Then weB次元官网网址檝e had a gracious donation from Grieg Seafood for fuel.B次元官网网址�
Colborne hopes that the power will be back on on Friday afternoon.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 in perfect case scenario and in the best of conditions. WeB次元官网网址檙e not in the best of conditions right now,B次元官网网址� she said. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e building contingency planning for Sunday or so or even after, just so that weB次元官网网址檙e more prepared.B次元官网网址�
Fixing the power system also is reliant on a helicopter, according to a release from B.C. Hydro.
B次元官网网址淭he continued heavy snowfall has caused extensive damage to the line serving customers in Tahsis and Zeballos,B次元官网网址� it says. B次元官网网址淲e assessed damage using a helicopter yesterday, and we began work in areas where it was safe to do so. As more heavy snowfall is expected, work progress will be dependent on the weather conditions and crews ability to safely access damaged areas.B次元官网网址�
Gold River has also seen more power outage issues this season than it does normally. Mayor Brad Unger posted on the village website that he and staff have B次元官网网址渉ad discussions with the BC HydroB次元官网网址檚 Vancouver Island community relations manger, Ted Olynyk, in regards to the current and past issues.B次元官网网址�
Potential solutions were to have a crew stationed in the village, but Unger wrote BC HydroB次元官网网址檚 response was that it would be B次元官网网址渧ery difficult for many reasons.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淒uring severe weather storms like the one recently experienced, crews come from all over the island and the length of time they can work without a break is an issue that must be considered,B次元官网网址� UngerB次元官网网址檚 note says.
Despite the tough conditions, Colborne says that the villagersB次元官网网址� spirit has only reaffirmed her love for the area.
B次元官网网址淭he North Island is the place to be, man.B次元官网网址�
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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com
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