2nd storm forces retreat by FortisBC repair crews

Technicians helping to restore power in Turks and Caicos take refuge from Maria

Threats of hurricane Maria forced the evacuation of FortisBC crews from Turks and Caicos this week, where they were working to restore power following hurricane Irma.

Six power-line technicians — two from Kelowna, two from the South Okanagan and two from the Kootenays — and one supervisor landed on the island of South Caicos last Tuesday.

They were scheduled to be there for three weeks.

On Wednesday, they left for Miami to escape hurricane Maria as a safety precaution, said Nicole Bogdanovic, spokesperson for FortisBC.

“This will also provide them with some much-needed rest,” she said.

The team is expected to return to the Turks and Caicos Islands on Sunday and return to work on Monday, weather permitting.

“It’s tough for the team to leave,” said Bogdanovic. “They understand how much the islands need electricity to support economic recovery, and that restoring power to hotels and homes will help people return to their normal lives.”

As of Wednesday evening, hurricane Maria was considered a Category 2 storm.

The FortisBC crew restored power to the water treatment plants, the medical clinic, their hotel and some customers in the downtown area.

They were also working to take down compromised poles as a safety precaution to avoid them falling down during the pending storm.

Local crews are now focusing on hurricane preparations.

Fortis is currently organizing its second crew to head to the Turks and Caicos Islands, said Bogdanovic.

“We expect a few days of overlap to make sure there is a smooth transition to the new crew,” she said.

The Associated Press A woman covers herself with a plastic bag as she makes her way to work as hurricane Maria approaches the coast of Bavaro, Dominican Republic, on Wednesday. The threat posed by the approaching hurricane forced FortisBC crews to leave Turks and Caicos...