In light of an approaching winter storm, Nova Scotia Power has announced the activation of its emergency operations centre, effective Monday morning. This proactive measure comes as the province prepares for heavy snowfall and high winds that are expected to impact the region significantly.
According to a statement on the Nova Scotia Power website, the utility is closely monitoring weather forecasts and has positioned its crews throughout Nova Scotia to respond quickly to any potential outages. Charlene MacMullin, Nova Scotia Power’s storm lead, emphasized the company's readiness by stating, “We’ve been monitoring the forecasts and have crews positioned across Nova Scotia ready to respond in the event of outages.”
The emergency operations centre will officially open at 8 a.m. on Monday. This activation is particularly crucial given the anticipated weather conditions, which can severely affect the power infrastructure. Heavy snow and high winds can lead to trees and branches weighing down on power lines, resulting in outages that may become widespread.
High winds pose an additional challenge, as conditions become unsafe for power line technicians when wind speeds reach 80 kilometres per hour. This not only hampers the ability to restore power quickly but also raises safety concerns for personnel involved in restoration efforts. Nova Scotia Power is committed to providing customers with accurate information regarding power restoration. They will offer estimated restoration times based on assessments conducted by crews on-site after they evaluate the conditions of the power lines and other affected components.
In the event of power outages, customers are encouraged to report issues and access the latest information about restoration efforts online. The utility provides an online outage map, accessible at outagemap.nspower.ca. Additionally, customers can call 1-877-428-6004 for assistance and updates.
As Nova Scotia prepares for the winter storm, the steps being taken by Nova Scotia Power demonstrate a commitment to ensuring public safety and minimizing the impact of adverse weather conditions on power services. Planning and readiness are key factors in effectively managing the challenges presented by winter storms and ensuring that customers remain informed throughout the duration of the event.
