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‘Damage is unreal:’ Two Sault hurricane relief workers hard at work in Caribbean (5 photos)

Two Algoma Power workers ‘amazed’ at damage left by Hurricane Irma

SooToday has received an update on conditions in the Caribbean’s Turks and Caicos Islands, ravaged like so many other of the Sea’s islands and Florida by Hurricane Irma, from two Sault line technicians sent by Algoma Power to help restore power to the area.

Mark Summers and Matt Francis of Algoma Power are two technicians among a group of nearly 60 workers sent to the islands by FortisOntario, the parent company of Algoma Power.

Through an email sent by a Fortis spokesperson earlier this week, Summers and Francis stated “we were amazed at the damage, we’ve never seen anything like it before.”

“There were a lot of roofs torn off buildings and homes, poles and wires on the ground, with wire rolled up in balls. There is debris everywhere.”

“We are now on Grand Turks. Lots of poles and wires down here. There was no power to the island when we arrived, and when we first arrived there were no communications, and when there were, it was poor or pretty much not possible to communicate. We are now able to talk to our families,” they wrote.

“The damage is unreal! Very, very hot. The hotel we are staying at doesn’t have power, its being run by a small generator. We are being taken care of for our food, we have a few lights, some fans and running water at our hotel. With just a generator there is no hot water, but that’s okay, as we know the people living here have a lot less,” Summers and Francis replied.

The team of 60 line workers, six from Ontario, along with others sent by Fortis from B.C., Alberta, the Martimes and Newfoundland and Labrador, arrived in the Turks and Caicos Islands Sept. 10.

“There are a lot of poles and wires on the ground…and many more poles leaning. There are miles of lines to repair. It’s estimated on Grand Turk Island alone (where we are working) that there are 300 to 400 poles down. We are focused on getting the power to places like the water treatment plant, the airport, the prison, and we are now working on clearing some roads to make it safe, and replacing sections of line with somewhere around 30 poles to start to get power to the city.”

The lives of the people in the Turks and Caicos Islands have been thrown into a state of upheaval, but despite that, Summers and Francis wrote “the people are great. They are very positive and appreciative. It makes us feel great to be able to help.”

“This (hurricane damage) is something we have never experienced in Canada.” 

Fortis spokesperson Kristine Carmichael told SooToday “there has been safety orientation and training for the employees, as safety of the team is of the utmost importance.”

Carmichael said crews are working in three week intervals, with a second Fortis crew preparing to travel to the Turks and Caicos Islands when the current crew returns.

Summers and Francis expect to return to Canada in another two weeks.


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Darren Taylor

About the Author: Darren Taylor

Darren Taylor is a news reporter and photographer in Sault Ste Marie. He regularly covers community events, political announcements and numerous board meetings. With a background in broadcast journalism, Darren has worked in the media since 1996.
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