After a near record-breaking dry season, BC Hydro is warning customers to be prepared for weather-related power outages caused by weakened trees and drought this storm season.
Dave Mosure, BC Hydro Community Relations said dry weather and widespread wildfires damaged soil, roots and vegetation in many parts of the province.
“For the Cariboo in particular, two things of note. One is the dry soil conditions and the impact that means on trees and their root structure. They don’t have that moist soil that packs in and keeps them steady, so in a good wind those dry conditions and those weak roots can result in the trees being knocked over.”
Secondly, Mosure said that dry condition also means trees don’t get much water into themselves so a branch in a good breeze would have flexed and bent, now it’s likely to fracture, break off and fall into the power line.
“Veg crews get out there constantly, trees are constantly growing and we’re constantly trimming them, but they can only do so much, and we’re also limited as to how far back we’re allowed to trim. If you consider the pole to be the center line crews are allowed to go so far away from the pole to either remove trees or cut branches that are in to that area, it still doesn’t mean that trees outside that boundary can be knocked in to the power lines so in some ways we’re sort of constricted to how effective we can be with our vegetation management.”
In case of a power outage this storm season, Mosure noted it’s good to have a 72-hour emergency kit on hand that includes flashlights, extra batteries, non-perishable foods, bottled water, and any medication people in the household may need.
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