Saturday’s deadly and damaging windstorm has made it difficult to get fuel in the Ottawa-Gatineau area. Some gas stations have been shut down due to damage or lack of electricity, while others have simply been left without supply.
Long queues have been reported at some stations that do have fuel. Others work almost normally.
It all comes after high winds and a thunderstorm knocked down trees and hydraulic equipment across a wide strip of eastern Ontario and parts of western Quebec, leaving tens of thousands of customers without electricity. for almost 72 hours.
It takes gas to drive to get supplies, travel to places with electricity and generators in operation, and other storm-cleaning equipment such as chainsaws, fans, and more.
“It’s been a concern for the last few days,” Ottawa Mayor Jim Watson told CBC News Network on Tuesday morning.
“Some [gas] Stations have a lot of gas, but no electricity, so they can’t pump gas. Other stations have run out of gas. “
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Ottawa is expected to restore most of its electricity by the end of the week, says Mayor Jim Watson, noting that some gas stations cannot pump gas right now without electricity.
The president of MacEwen Gas, which owns and operates many gas stations in the Ottawa area, said Tuesday that some of its stations have no electricity and that there is increased demand and alignment at its stations with electricity.
Peter MacEwen also said that some fuel distribution centers in Ottawa have experienced power outages.
This means that drivers of fuel trucks have had to travel longer distances, to Montreal, for example, to bring gas to Ottawa stations.
Powering gas stations is not a priority, says Hydro Ottawa
Because climate change is causing a more volatile climate, Watson said it might be a good idea to require gas stations to have a backup of the generator.
When asked about gas station power, Hydro Ottawa said his primary goal has been to get community service institutions back on the network, such as hospitals, long-term care and facilities. water treatment facilities.
They are also focusing on making repairs that return energy to as many customers as possible, Joseph Muglia, Hydro Ottawa’s director of system operations and network automation, told CBC Radio’s Ottawa Morning.
“Raising gas stations is more of a by-product of creating certain circuits. Once again, we’re doing our best to show those circuits that would get the most customers back … That’s where we can pick things up faster and the safest, of course, “he said.
My car was in smoke yesterday. We visited 6 gas stations before finding one that was open. We waited 2 hours in lineup, but we have a full tank and are mobile again. Yes. .
– @ ShaunScholtzUX
We have gas in Bronson around 7pm tonight. We were driving down the west end to Kanata for almost an hour before my parents saw an open station.
– @CraigTaillefer