- CBC PEI continues to focus on Fiona’s aftermath. If your data or internet is limited, click here for the CBC Lite version of the PEI site.
About 62,000 Maritime Electric customers in PEI were still without power Tuesday afternoon, more than three days after Post-Tropical Storm Fiona tore through the province.
Company spokesperson Kim Griffin said crews from parent company Fortis have arrived to help with the restoration.
About 350 power poles have been damaged, he said.
Maritime Electric spokeswoman Kim Griffin said Tuesday that crews are working to repair about 350 damaged power poles. (Alexandre Silberman/CBC)
Griffin said it’s more important than ever to stay away from downed lines as power comes back on.
“That’s my scariest thought during this event, and during this storm, is if this happened to someone who was near the power lines, so we’re still asking people to stay away from them. No we want them close to them and our teams are trying to get in and clean up as quickly as possible in all communities as they strengthen.”
Crews are working 12- and 16-hour shifts, he said, but restoring service may be slower than in Nova Scotia because of the “thousands” of trees that have fallen on power lines.
“No storm is the same and no impact is the same,” he said.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with islanders Tuesday as he saw firsthand the devastation caused by Post-Tropical Storm Fiona. (Martin Trainor/CBC)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau toured parts of Prince Edward Island decimated by Post-Tropical Storm Fiona on Tuesday, getting a first-hand look at the devastation on the ground.
The storm made landfall in PEI late Friday night into Saturday morning, leaving widespread devastation across the island, from downed trees and power lines to destroyed buildings and roads.
On Tuesday, Trudeau visited the north shore community of Stanley Bridge, which was particularly hard hit by the storm. The visit included private meetings with storm-affected community members and local parliamentarians.
“It’s good to be here on the ground today in PEI. Obviously there’s a lot of devastation, not just here, but we saw it going all over the island. Not just the fishermen and docks affected, obviously agriculture as well,” he said.
An engineering support unit from Canadian Forces Base Gagetown, NB, established headquarters at Slemon Park as part of Task Force PEI (Brian Higgins/CBC)
“We were already working before the storm to prepare for the worst. And, you know, the worst happened. But at the same time there are tremendous stories of resilience, of rebuilding, and there’s a lot of work to be done during the coming weeks and months.”
Trudeau met in person with PEI Premier Dennis King on Tuesday to discuss the challenges in person and begin work to build a more resilient infrastructure in the future. King said he called for immediate help for the fishing and farming industries, which suffered “significant losses” from Fiona.
Many dairy barns and potato storage facilities were destroyed, King said during Tuesday’s briefing.
“That’s a big, big concern for this industry.”
An aerial view of Fiona’s path of destruction in PEI
This drone footage gathered by CBC video producer Shane Hennessey this Sunday shows the extensive damage caused by Post-Tropical Storm Fiona in parts of the island.
Trudeau, who will also visit Sydney, NS, while on the east coast, said the federal government will offer all the support it can as the province deals with the devastation.
“People are very worried, but at the same time, we’ve seen people come together. That’s the story of Islanders, and indeed of Canadians, that we’re there for each other in times of need.” he said.
“Right now, everyone is going through a lot of anxiety, a lot of work to clean up, but we know it’s not just now that they need help. It’s going to be for weeks, months and even years.”
King said he is not ready to issue a stay-at-home order, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. But he once again pleaded with islanders to stay off the roads unless necessary.
Fiona’s devastation and the resistance of the islanders
‘It’s a little crazy’: A look around the province as PEI picks up the pieces. (Jane Robertson/CBC)
“People have been locked up with COVID for two years and we have to allow them to move,” he said. “What we keep asking people to do is to be cautious, to be aware, to be understanding.”
Although there was widespread property damage, no serious injuries were reported from the storm.