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View Full Version : Hydro-Quebec has its largest relief operation outside of Quebec. (Sandy)



NewFounderHome
18th November 2012, 19:50
I was reading this in the Montreal news paper yesterday and I cant say this often but I was proud of the employees of Hydro Quebec.

I want to say a thanks to the employs of Hydro Quebec for landing a hand in the after match of Sandy.

This original text is in French at the following link. 3-11-2012 Journal de Montreal
http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/11/02/hydro-quebec-envoie-des-monteurs-de-ligne-dans-letat-de-new-york

But here is a fast translation.

The 260 linemen deployed on the U.S. East Coast to help reconnect thousands of subscribers are the largest operation of Hydro-Québec outside the province since Hurricane Katrina.

"When it comes to events like this one, major breakdowns, we help between companies. It is this type of operation about once or twice a year, "said Yvan Cliche, spokesman for Hydro-Québec.

Two hundred linemen had begun to rescue Tuesday in Vermont and New Hampshire and Connecticut, where they remain.

Another group of 60 specialists are available to work Saturday in the area of ​​Long Island, about sixty miles from New York, the metropolis has been hit hard by Sandy.

These workers will sometimes repeat the entire grid, a daunting task that will take several days or even weeks.

"It's devastating, people are without electricity since the beginning of the storm. It was even at this time of difficulty to accommodate our people, "said François Fortier, Chief Prevention Support at Hydro-Québec.

A situation that is reminiscent of the ice storm of 1998 when the linemen were from the United States by the hundreds.

"At the organizational level, it makes me think of the enormous ice in 1998, the first days. So much excitement around, customers worried, "said Mr. Fortier.

The bill for this operation by Hydro-Quebec is provided by the New York authorities.

Other reinforcements?

Impossible to say how long all these workers will be on site, or if other teams leave reinforcements. "The situation is reassessed every day, if not every hour, said Yvan Cliche Saturday night. No request was received on Sunday, but things can change quickly. "

NewFounderHome
18th November 2012, 19:54
Another link.

16-11-2012 Journal de Montreal http://www.journaldemontreal.com/2012/11/16/new-york-accueille-en-sauveurs-les-travailleurs-dhydro-quebec

Take a look at the video on the link.

Here is a fast translation in English.

In areas devastated by Hurricane Sandy in New York, workers Hydro-Québec, which lend a hand for three weeks, are welcomed in true saviors.

"We had seen pictures on television, but on arriving here, we never would have imagined that it would be as bad," said François Fortier immediately, head of mission for Hydro-Québec.

Standing in the ruins of a neighborhood of 80 houses completely destroyed by fire, he is still struggling to realize the magnitude of the disaster. "The most difficult thing is to see the misery, people in distress who have lost everything. It's incomprehensible, "says Fortier.

Three weeks later, the needs are still acute in the most affected areas like New York Long Island or Staten Island. The State Governor Andrew Cuomo has requested assistance from $ 30 billion to the federal government to rebuild everything.

"The worst situation"

Breezy Point, a neighborhood in Long Island completely destroyed by fire and water, it is a little "Ground Zero" of the disaster which claimed the lives of over 100 Americans, on October 29.

"This is the worst I have ever seen. Whole neighborhoods were completely devastated, "says Daniel Dumas, emergency coordinator, who also worked during the ice storm in 1998. He is surprised at the resilience of New Yorkers. "Despite everything they live, people thank us," he says.

While in Manhattan everything is in order, here is the desolation, and the cleanup has just started.

"Thank Quebec"

Earlier this week, nearly 10,000 homes were still without electricity on Long Island and anger towards the electricity supplier Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) was palpable. LIPA has also received a subpoena this week about his handling of the crisis. The leader of the company has also resigned.

In this context, the Hydro-Quebec workers were welcomed as heroes. At the height of the crisis, there were 300; these days, they are 50. This is the largest number of employees ever sent outside of Quebec. We write "Thank Quebec" in the windows of houses in the dust of their trucks. It provides them with chocolates, coffee and biscuits.

The teams work 16 hours a day for nearly three weeks. At first, they camped in tractor-trailers converted into dormitories. "The early days were not easy, but people we appreciate. It encourages us. We are proud, "says Jean Tétreault, who works for Hydro-Québec for 23 years.

Snookie
18th November 2012, 21:39
I had heard that in one of the states that Sandy deveastated certain crews were turned back because they weren't unionized. Not sure if that is true, but if so all I can say is they are nuts!

NewFounderHome
20th November 2012, 00:44
I had heard that in one of the states that Sandy deveastated certain crews were turned back because they weren't unionized. Not sure if that is true, but if so all I can say is they are nuts!

Cant agree with you more. Smookie