Utilities: Snowstorm damage tops Irene, '98 ice storm
- More than 22%2C000 customers remain without electric service.
- Utilities%3A Damage from two-day storm worse than from Irene%2C 1998 ice storm.
- %22We don%27t even know when the outages are going to stop occurring%2C%22 GMP says.
- Damage cost expected to soar into %22millions of dollars.%22
Damage to Vermont's electric utilities from a two-day snowstorm has exceeded that of Tropical Storm Irene and the infamous 1998 ice storm, the state's largest power provider said Friday as thousands of workers tried to restore service.
"The human impact of Irene was far greater, but from a utility response, this is different from anything we've seen," said Dorothy Schnure, spokeswoman for Green Mountain Power.
She said it was too early to place an amount on the damage, but she said the figure clearly would reach "millions of dollars." Power lines, poles and trees bore the brunt of the devastation.
About 20,000 customers of Vermont's electric utilities remained without service across the state as of early evening Friday. That total largely fell throughout the day.
Gov. Peter Shumlin said he would tour the devastation by helicopter Saturday morning.
Green Mountain Power alone brought in 900 line workers and tree trimmers from every state in New England, plus New York and Canada, to support restoration efforts, Schnure said. That compares with 100 outside crews who arrived to help after the 1998 ice storm, which primarily struck Chittenden and Grand Isle counties, Schnure added.
By 5 p.m. Friday, the number of Green Mountain Power customers without electricity had fallen to just above 10,000. During the course of the storm, which began Tuesday, about 112,000 customers lost power because of the heavy, wet snow that toppled trees, branches and power lines.
Other utilities Friday evening reported a total of about 10,000 outages.
With the ice storm and with 2011's Irene, the broader level of devastation was greater: Communities were cut off, blackouts lasted a week, roads crumbled amid widespread flooding, and homes and bridges collapsed into raging rivers. But those storms struck a narrower geographic band, Schnure said.
From a standpoint purely of utility-related damage, she added, this week's snowstorm has proved worse.
"This is probably the longest continual damage we've ever seen," she said. "This is all over the state, and it's continuing."
As temperatures hovered around freezing, trees were weary under the weight of cement-like snow. Branches are snapping and falling onto power lines, creating new outages as crews work to make repairs. Some workers have made fixes in the same spots multiple times, Schnure said.
The next problem will be as snow melts, and newly unburdened branches snap back.
"Irene did devastating damage, but we knew what we needed to do, and we fixed it," Schnure said. This time around, "we don't even know when the outages are going to stop occurring."
Elsewhere, Washington Electric Co-op says customers have been hit hard by the storm because of the remoteness and high elevation of areas the company serves.
The most outages Friday evening were reported in Chittenden County, followed by Rutland and Washington counties.
View Hyperlapse video of road conditions Friday traveling along Monkton-Bristol Road southbound between Meader Hill and the intersection with Hardscrabble Road.
EARLIER COVERAGE
FRIDAY STATEMENT FROM GREEN MOUNTAIN POWER
Colchester – "I've never seen anything like this." That's what GMP lineworkers are reporting from the frontlines of the winter storm, which began Tuesday night and continues to ravage nearly every corner of Vermont. Wet, heavy snow clings to branches and power lines, and with each passing hour and day the likelihood of a tree breaking and a resulting outage increases. As quickly as crews can make repairs, new outages continue to occur. Until temperatures increase and the sun shines to help melt the snow, this pattern will continue.
Chet Farrell, a long time chief lineworker at GMP said, "In my 23 years as a lineworker, I can't remember such a tough snowstorm! We've got wires down everywhere and after several days of snow, trees are still coming down. But it is really great getting to be restoring power to our customers – I find that very satisfying."
GMP reports significant progress with more than 800 lineworkers and tree trimmers supported by hundred of GMP staff working around the clock to make repairs. The company reports that this is the worst storm it has encountered in recent history for outages, surpassing the ice storm of 1998 and 2011's Tropical Storm Irene. GMP has taken unprecedented steps to speed repairs, mobilizing more crews than ever before from all over the region and even calling in recent retirees to help manage crews and assist in the call center.
"As we enter the fourth day of this incredible storm we want Vermonters to know that we are doing everything we can to get repairs done quickly and safely," said Dorothy Schnure, GMP's spokesperson. "We know that this has been a very difficult time for those impacted. Some customers have been without power since Tuesday evening. The damage is extensive and widespread."
GMP has had a total of 112,000 outages as a result of the storm. It has restored 98,000 and has 14,000 still without power at this time.
Roger Hill, meteorologist of Weathering Heights Consulting and Radio Vermont said, "This is the wettest snowfall I have ever experienced since coming to Vermont in 1986. Normal nor'easters are typically powdery snow with a 20 to 1 snow to water ratio. Below 10 to 1 it starts to collect on lines and this storm is 5 to 1. I have never seen that combination in Vermont. There are 2 cubic inches landing on branches and power lines. This is more like an ice storm than a snow storm."
Green Mountain Power offered the following additional important safety tips:
· Never operate portable generators inside the home, garage or other enclosed buildings as they require adequate ventilation to prevent the buildup of carbon monoxide(CO).
· If you encounter a downed line, always stay clear of the line and report it to GMP right away. Emergency personnel should also be contacted.
· Shelters have been opened up in some of the hardest hit areas. To locate the shelter nearest you, call 211.
· Check in on neighbors as the storm enters its third day to ensure their safety and warmth.
As the storm restoration progresses, GMP will keep customers updated through Facebook, Twitter and media announcements. The multi-day nature of this storm is making restoration predictions particularly challenging especially while we are still experiencing more outages from downed trees. We appreciate the public's understanding at this time. Customers may sign up for text service to report outages and get updates. Simply text REG to 46788 or GMPVT, or sign up online at greenmountainpower.com/textalerts. As always, customers may report outages by calling 1-888-835-4672, or visiting GMP's Outage Center page at www.greenmountainpower.com.
Contributing: The Associated Press