Storm season is here, and after a multi-year drought in the province, BC Hydro is encouraging customers to be prepared for weather-related power outages caused by drought-weakened trees and other vegetation.
While drought levels have improved compared to this time last year, BC Hydro meteorologists are warning there is still an elevated risk of power outages in the event of windstorms this fall. While the danger is most acute on Vancouver Island and in Northern B.C., the Southern Interior and Lower Mainland are still at risk due to below-average precipitation.
“A multi-year drought that began about three years ago is continuing to put local vegetation under stress, damaging roots, trees, and soil in many parts of the province,” says BC Hydro spokesperson Susie Rieder.
“Trees weakened by years of drought can be more susceptible to wind and stormy conditions, and could be at risk of falling over, contributing to power outages."
A new survey conducted on behalf of BC Hydro finds that about 50 per cent of British Columbians think storms in the winter are becoming more severe, but two-thirds of those surveyed do not think the drought will have an impact this storm season.
BC Hydro storm season data indicates otherwise. Drought was a major factor in some of the most damaging storms in recent years. After a year of record drought, a windstorm in early November 2022 left about 420,000 BC Hydro customers without power in the Lower Mainland, Sunshine Coast, the Gulf Islands, and Vancouver Island. In early November 2023, drought and a record-breaking wildfire season left trees and vegetation more susceptible to winds and heavy rain, leaving 235,000 customers without power.
While storms have increased in frequency and severity in recent years, about half of British Columbians indicated they are not fully prepared for storm season this year. Fewer than 40 per cent of those surveyed have an emergency kit at home. While those living in the Lower Mainland are the most likely to say they are concerned about the impact of storms on their personal safety and well-being (55 per cent), they are the least prepared when it comes to gearing up for storm-related power outages.
In contrast, regions such as the Southern Interior, the North, and Vancouver Island — which experienced more drought and wildfire damage this year — are less concerned about storm season, perhaps because they are more prepared. For example, more than 60 per cent of residents living in the Southern Interior feel fully prepared for this storm season.
BC Hydro is prepared for this upcoming storm season, and is encouraging customers to prepare as well. No matter what region of the province they reside in, BC Hydro customers can prepare now in the following ways:
- Have a well-stocked emergency kit with water, flashlight, batteries, and non-perishable goods to last at least 72 hours, as well as a plan in place for your family in the event of an extended outage.
- Remember the 10-metre rule: a downed power line is an emergency, so stay 10 metres back (about the length of a bus) and dial 9-1-1.
- Understand that there is often no way to tell if a power line is live, as it is not likely be smoking, buzzing, or flashing.
For more information on how to prepare for storm season, visit bchydro.com/staysafe.
