P.E.I. power outages could continue into Thursday

It could be another two days before all Maritime Electric customers on P.E.I. have their electricity restored following a storm Sunday, especially in the hard-hit areas of7 Mile Road, Guernsey Cove, St. Peters and Morell.

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As of 7:45p.m.Tuesday there were about 2,000 customers without power, slightly more than earlier in the afternoon. Maritime Electric said its next update would be Wednesday at 6 a.m.

Just the sheer magnitude of the devastation, you can see it when you drive down the roads. Kim Griffin, Maritime Electric

"The damage is extensive. We are experiencing some outage fluctuation and our numbers have been ranging from 1,900 to 3,000 [customers without power] over the past two hours," said Maritime Electric spokeswoman Kim Griffin.

"Due to the damage and now with the snow and ice melting causing problems we may be into Thursday to have all power restored."

Early Monday morning close to 12,000 had no electricity.

Warming centres opened

The hardest-hit communities are in the east. Communities have opened warming centres for locals without electricity at the following locations:

• St. Joachim's Hall in Vernon River
• Murray Harbour Community Centre
• Montague Food Bank.
• Dr. Roddie Community Centre in St. Peters
• St. Peters Fire Hall.
• Eastern Kings Fire Department
• Lower Montague Old School Community Centre
• Cardigan Fire Hall.

Griffin called it the worst kind of storm, with ice, wet snow and high winds that took down lines and even poles. Even as power was restored to some on Monday more lines were coming down, cutting off power to others.

"Just the sheer magnitude of the devastation, you can see it when you drive down the roads," said Griffin, who said she spent most of Tuesday surveying the damage down east.

"Just to see the number of poles that are down and to see lines and lines of crews working to restore that power."

Schools closed

Some schools were still closed Tuesday: Morell Regional, Georgetown Elementary and cole Belle Cloche. MorellConsolidated operated on a one-hourdelay .

• Warming centres open in communities left shivering after Sunday storm

Communities without power

Maritime Electric said the areas without power have been changing as crews try to fix the damage.

An updated list of all the communities affected is posted on the utility's website.

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