Efforts to restore power continues after eastern N.L. ice storm

ST. JOHN'S, N.L. - The effort to restore electricity in eastern Newfoundland after a weekend storm is finally winding down.

All but a handful of Newfoundland Power customers in the Bonavista region had their power restored Tuesday after the ice storm pulled down utility polls and power lines across the region.

On the Trinity Bay side of the Avalon Peninsula, power was also restored to most areas, except for about 400 customers in Bay de Verde, Red Head Cove and Grates Cove.

Officials with Newfoundland Power say the damage is so extensive in the Grates Cove area that repairs won't be completed until Wednesday.

Bonavista Mayor Betty Fitzgerald said that while residents were eager to get their power back, everybody has been coping well.

"All in all, everybody pulled together," he said.

"We got great teamwork down there. The whole town comes out and helps one another in a case like this. So that's good, to have good people in your town."

About 250 power lines and transmission structures were damaged by the ice when the storm hit the region Friday.

Sunshine and warmer temperatures on Monday helped to melt some of the ice off the lines, making work a little easier for power crews.

Meanwhile, the Canadian Red Cross reports that its shelter in Bonavista has been busy offering bottled water and hot drinks.

However, only about 10 people - most of them using medical equipment requiring electricity - have been spending the night at the shelter.

Twenty-two Red Cross volunteers from as far away as St. John's have been running the shelter at a local school gym.

The Bonavista Health Care Centre, the Golden Heights Manor Nursing Home in Bonavista and the Dr. A.A. Wilkinson Memorial Health Centre in Old Perlican, have operated on generator power since Friday.

"During this challenging period, our staff members have continued to provide high quality care to our patients and residents while maintaining urgent and emergency services as well," said Vickie Kaminski, CEO of the regional health authority.