'Shocking, dramatic, scary': Wind storm leaves tens of thousands of York Region residences without power

Alectra Utilities said 35,248 York Region customers were affected by power outages during Nov. 15 storm

Yorkregion.com
November 17, 2020

The strong winds on Nov. 15 caused a power outage affecting around 35,248 Alectra Utilities customers in York Region.

The power outages did not affect customers all at the same time, Lee Dap, digital communication specialist at Alectra, said.

According to Alex Stewart, spokesperson at Hydro One, the gusts of about 100 km/h created outages provincewide.

"It is still active today and is one of the most impactful storms we have had since 2018," Stewart said.

In Georgina, six areas remain without power as of mid-afternoon Nov. 16. In the Orchard Beach area, 1,248 customers remain without service.

Estimated times for a return to service are not available.

"We appreciate customers’ patience," Stewart said. "We know it is not easy being without power, but our crews are working long hours to restore power."

Alectra Utilities is still dealing with 12 small pockets of outages, showing 20 customers or less, Dap said.

A King resident said following the gusty winds, many of her large spruce trees, known in the area for their grand size and beauty, broke and downed electrical wires on the main road.

Nancy Hopkinson said she had a view of the outside from a window in her house on Lynwood Crescent, when she saw the top of one of her spruce trees spin off into the air.

Thinking fast, she yelled out to her husband that they should go to the basement.

One of their trees also broke and hit an electrical wire, causing their neighbours' power to go out.

York Regional Police were called to the scene to conduct traffic through the street, and to supervise the downed wire for public safety until hydro workers could fix it.

Hopkinson said they had power, but their neighbour was pretty upset they lost theirs.

Police stayed all night until hydro workers restored power the morning of Nov. 16.

Hopkinson said the experience was "shocking, dramatic, and scary", and said she is sad about her spruce trees.

"We have lived in Nobleton in the same house since 1974, so a long time… The trees were beautiful and we loved them. People would comment on them and they made our home so special because they were so big.

"The parts of the trees twisted off," Hopkinson said. "It didn’t just fall over.".

Cleanup crew from King Township also attended the street to clean up the fallen branches from the roadway.

"I’m really impressed with the police and the township and pleased and happy hydro made it this morning," Hopkinson said.