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Stormy weather downs power supplies, disrupts ferries

Belco Lines Man Juhan Marsh replaces a cut out also known as a fuse holder on a pole along Mount View Road in Pembroke as grey clouds loom over head. File photo.

Nearly 200 Belco customers were without power yesterday afternoon after bad weather led to power cuts around the Island.Company spokesperson Susan McGrath-Smith said that persistent high winds had left more than 1,000 families without power over the past few days.By 3pm yesterday all main lines had been ”re-energised and repaired” she said, however, nearly 185 customers remained without power.Most who were still affected were in the Sleepy Hollow Branch Line, in Hamilton Parish, which was expected to be tackled as soon as winds subsided.Ms McGrath-Smith said: “Currently, seven crews are mobilised. Every effort is being made to dispatch crews and effect repairs quickly and safely.“The number of customers without power has been changing constantly over the past several days with outages scattered across the Island.“The maximum off at any one time was approximately 1,400. Crews have been working continually to keep pace with the changing conditions. Customers who have lost power more than once during the storm can expect that major work on their lines will be scheduled very early in the New Year.“Belco appreciates customers’ patience and cooperation, as our crews and Operations Centre team work to keep power on, as well as to restore power as quickly as possible in these stormy winter weather conditions.”Several flights to and from the Island were cancelled or delayed yesterday, according to the Department of Airport Operations.The Long Term Parking facility at LF Wade International Airport is full to capacity after many travellers have been unable to return or are experiencing delays.A spokesman said that provisions were being made to find additional parking spaces on a limited basis and urged travellers to get to the airport by taxi or get a lift there to avoid difficulties finding parking.Travellers should also check their flights are departing as scheduled due to severe weather in many destinations, the spokesman said.Yesterday afternoon the JetBlue flights to and from JFK had been cancelled and Continental flights from Newark had also been cancelled.American Airlines flights were cancelled and US Air flights from Philadelphia were delayed for three hours.The bad weather also affected Sea Express Ferry Services and the Department of Marine and Ports with the blue route cancelled for the day and the pink route service to Belmont suspended, while other stops ran on holiday schedule.