
Rescue and relief efforts continue in Florida following the devastation caused by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. In a heartwarming show of support, Canadian electrical companies, including Ontario’s Hydro One, have sent multiple teams to assist in restoring power in the impacted areas. A team of 35 from Nova Scotia Power, primarily power line technicians along with support staff, is on the ground in Tampa, Florida, working to repair the extensive damage and bring electricity back to affected areas.
A crew of 35 from Nova Scotia Power arrived in Tampa last weekend to help restore electricity to homes and businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton. “On the ground, we’re seeing a lot of trees down and wires down… a lot of destruction,” said Paul Breski, the restoration lead, during a virtual media briefing on Sunday. He added that the crews are working 16-hour shifts, clearing downed trees and splicing lines to reconnect power in the affected areas.
The Nova Scotia crew is part of a larger group of hundreds of Canadian line workers who have travelled to the southern United States to assist with power restoration after Hurricane Helene struck in late September. According to Paul Breski, the impacts of Hurricane Milton in Tampa are similar to what Nova Scotia faced during post-tropical storm Fiona in 2022.
Last week, Ontario’s electricity utility sent 100 power line workers to Georgia to help Georgia Power recover from Hurricane Helene. After completing their work on Tuesday, the team moved further south, joined by an additional 50 workers from Ontario, according to Tiziana Baccega Rosa, Senior Media Relations Advisor at Hydro One.
Rosa noted that many of the crew members have experience assisting with previous hurricanes. “The pride they feel in being able to help people when they need it most makes them eager to volunteer again,” she said. The crews will now be assisting Florida Power and Light with restoration efforts.
Ontario’s utility service has skilled workers who are trained to work on both transmission and distribution systems. This makes them very valuable to other utilities.
Hydro One is a key member of the North Atlantic Mutual Assistance Group, which facilitates reciprocal agreements with other utilities to provide support during major power outages. According to Tiziana Baccega Rosa, all costs for the assistance are covered by the utilities receiving help.
Source: Toronto Star