This week's snowstorm and subsequent flooding bought darkness across the Tri-Cities this morning.
About 2,000 BC Hydro customers in parts of Port Moody, Anmore and Belcarra woke up without lights early Thursday while a fallen tree over a wire wiped out electricity to more than 100 customers on Burke Mountain in Coquitlam at around 3:40 a.m.
Another wire went down on Harper Road and Conifer Drive shortly after 7 a.m. and more residents were affected by the power outage on Grover Avenue, off Como Lake Avenue.
The morning blackouts added to the woes of commuters, who had to contend large pools of water on the roads and slush on the sidewalks and streets.
Officials from Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam and Port Moody and the two villages — as well as police — took to social media to alert drivers and pedestrians about the dangers as well as notify about trash, recycling and green waste pickup.
Dave Kidd, PoCo's manager of public works, and Todd Gross, the city's parks services manager, told The Tri-City News the municipality has received numerous calls about plugged catch basins and flooded roads. "All public works staff have been redirected to flood patrol and potholes," they said in an email.
(Residents are asked to pitch in by clearing the melting snow and debris from the catch basins near their homes; fallen trees can be reported by calling 604-927-5496 or emailing [email protected]).
Meanwhile, the snow storm and heavy rainfall warning for Metro Vancouver on Thursday morning also prompted the provincial government to temporarily close the Port Mann Bridge to clear the cables of ice.
As a result, Highway 1 through Coquitlam was shut for an hour, from 10 to 11 a.m.
