“If we can, we answer the call,” said the district superintendent of Energie NB, which sent crews from New Brunswick to Haliburton County this week.
“We have a list of out-of-province storms that is posted, and whoever wants to go, jumps in the truck,” he added.
Some of the hardest hit by last week’s ice storm are seeing hydro trucks from all over come to help with the restoration of power, and clean-up. People from Irondale have been watching, and cheering, workers from the Woodstock area in New Brunswick who have answered the call for help.
“Some of us have been up here for about five days, others about three,” said one worker. “We are mostly clearing trees right now, there are a lot of downed trees.” He said there are private contractors and tree trimmers out along with them to get things done.
When asked why so many would come from out of the province to help, the district superintendent said it was very rewarding. “It is the best part of the job,” he said. “Getting to work with, and meet, new people, and help those who need it.” He added there is a lot of tree damage and broken poles, “which looks very familiar.” He was involved in the aftermath of Hurricane Fiona in Prince Edward Island in 2022 and was there for 23 days.
There are so many Hydro poles that need replacing, and some of the areas that the New Brunswick team are working in are so remote, that they will have to be flown in by helicopter. This is expected to take place within the next day or so.
The New Brunswick crews have been working 16 hours a day to restore power in Irondale and surrounding areas, and some locals, like George Simmons, have been showing their support by waving, flying the Canadian flag, and thanking them.
“We just want to show them how appreciative we are for all their hard work,” Simmons said.
However, some have been wondering why the municipality hasn’t done more, like opening the Irondale Community Centre so they have washrooms, and a place to warm up and eat lunch. Resident Jeff Hancock called out the local advisory committee in Minden Hills for “failing to use municipal resources like the community centre to help anyone, including the NB hydro workers.”
S.G. Nesbitt Memorial Arena in Minden was open around the clock from March 31 to April 8, serving as a warming centre and place where people could shower and charge their devices. There were cots for those who wanted to spend the night.
The facility remains open from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. to assist those impacted by the storm.”
The sentiment of “they help us, we help them” was echoed by the superintendent, as well as members of the crew, who said they were happy to be here and would be sticking around as long as it takes to restore power to those impacted.
