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12,000 customers still without power 5 days after powerful windstorm

Hydro crews continue working around-the-clock
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Resident Luke Hubner, one of many residents in the Coombs/Qualicum Beach area affected by Thursday’s windstorm, had his power restored on Christmas Eve, and shared this photo of Hydro crews working into the night.

Christmas morning update:

BC Hydro crews have restored power to over 600,000 customers since the windstorm hit on Thursday. Approximatetly 12,000 customers remain without power on Vancouver Island and the Southern Gulf Islands.

More than 800 field workers are working around-the-clock to repair the extensive damage. BC Hydro crews from the Interior as well contractor crews from Alberta and the East Coast have been brought in to assist.

Several hundred homes remain without power in the Parksville Qualicum Beach area.

Resident Luke Hubner was one of those without power in the Coombs/Qualicum Beach region for most the last five days but received a surprise on Christmas Eve.

“We weren’t expecting to have power for another four days but thanks to the endless work of BC Hydro we got back power just after we finished our Christmas Eve meal,” he said.

According to BC Hydro’s outage map, some homes in Nanoose Bay, Errington, a portion of French Creek, Hilliers, Whiskey Creek, Coombs and Qualicum Bay are still without power.

For a full list, go to www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-list.html and click Vancouver Island, North.

For more photos, check out the PQB News Facebook album here: www.facebook.com/PQBNews

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