Tens of thousands of islanders still without power 10 days after Fiona

• If your data or internet is limited as a result of Post-Tropical Storm Fiona, click here for the CBC Lite version of the PEI site.

While on the 10th day after dawn of post-tropical storm Fiona on PEI. running water.

Maritime Electric, the province’s main utility, reports that about 18,000 customers still have no power. With an average of 2.3 Islanders per household, that’s over 40,000 people.

The province is making efforts to get back to normal. Most schools will reopen on Monday, along with the University of Prince Edward Island and Holland College. The provincial civil service was called back to its offices on Thursday.

But for those without electricity, getting ready to go to work will be more difficult than usual.

The weather has been generally mild since Fiona hit the island on September 24, tearing up trees and devastating the power grid. That reduced potential problems for islanders who can’t run their furnaces without power, but temperatures fell below freezing overnight Sunday, and another frost advisory is in effect Monday evening.

Reopening of schools

As children are called back to school on Monday for the first time since the storm hit, nine schools will not reopen either because of damage or because they still have no power.

Schools that will not open on Monday are

• Consolidated cardigan.
• Donagh Regional.
• Evangeline School.
• Montague Regional High School.
• Prince Street Primary School.
• Intermediary of Queen Charlotte.
• Queen Elizabeth Primary School.
• Primary Saint John.
• Kent West.

The province has a website that is regularly updated with information on school openings. You can find it here.

Understaffed emergency staff

Islanders are being told to expect longer than normal wait times at the emergency department of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown.

Health PEI says staff are feeling the effects of Fiona and there is even more absenteeism than normal due to COVID-19.

“We are all facing the same situation as everyone else in the general public,” said Mike MacDonald, acting associate director of clinical nursing.

“Some people have had, you know, damage to their homes, their property, that sort of thing. We are therefore asking staff to come to work and support the islanders while managing their own situation at home. been stressful for the staff. »

People without urgent needs are told to avoid the emergency.

Operating room nurses are offered double time in some cases to work in the emergency room.

At 6:40 a.m., Health PEI reported a wait time of more than 10 hours for urgent cases.

MacDonald said while there are staffing shortages, the emergency room will not close completely.

Red Cross Shelter

The Canadian Red Cross opened a disaster shelter in Charlottetown on Saturday.

It is located in the Murchison Center and is open 24 hours a day. The center provides electricity, food, water and personal hygiene kits, as well as a warm place to sleep.

Hot meals are provided by local caterers. The Red Cross tries to balance supply and demand. Unconsumed meals are distributed to those living in camps.