Canada: Thousands without power in British Columbia after storm Dec. 20-21

Event

Tens of thousands of people remain without power in British Columbia as of Friday, December 21, after a severe storm hit the region on Thursday, December 20. The storm reportedly hit the city of Vancouver, Vancouver Island, and the Fraser Valley with wind speeds of up to 100 km/h (62 mph), downing trees and power lines; at least one person was left dead after being struck by a falling tree on Vancouver Island.

Over 300,000 people were initially left without power due to the storm; as of Friday afternoon (local time) more than 125,000 customers remained without power, including over 75,000 on Vancouver Island and over 40,000 others in the Lower Mainland and Sunshine Coast regions. Additionally, several roads have been closed in the Vancouver area, including in Surrey. Many public schools were also closed in the province on Friday. The BC Hydro utility company reported that power outages in some affected areas may continue for days.  

Advice

Individuals in British Columbia, particularly those in the hardest-hit areas on Vancouver Island, are advised to monitor developments to the situation, keep battery-operated devices fully charged whenever possible, prepare for transportation disruptions, and adhere to instructions issued by the local authorities.