The majority of New Providence customers without power will have their electricity supplies restored by today, General Manager of the Bahamas Electricity Company (BEC) Kevin Basden said yesterday. Basden said 50 percent of BEC's customers in New Providence had no electricity yesterday afternoon. At a press conference at the National Emergency Management Agency's (NEMA) emergency center, Basden told reporters that power outages were a result of lines clashing in high winds and downed poles. Crews began to replace poles and overhead lines, in an effort to restore power in most of the affected areas, he said.
"We restored the bigger set of areas first to [return power] to as many customers, and our transmission systems are in fact intact; we have that back in, and a number of our primary sub-stations have already been restored," he said. "The work continues. We anticipate getting most customers back up by this evening (Friday), but it would be premature to give a completion time as further assessments followed by repairs are still necessary." He said electricity supplies on all of the Family Islands were impacted by the storm, and work was progressing on Inagua, Cat Island and Long Island.
Restoration efforts had started in Eleuthera, according to Basden, although he said workers had difficulties traveling over the Glass Window Bridge. Basden said workers were also experiencing some challenges in North Andros, but if additional resources were needed crews may be dispatched to those islands. Asked whether international assistance may be required, Basden said the Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation (CARILEC) has offered to provide assistance if needed.
Acting Chief Engineer in the Ministry of Works Bradley King said officials have also had challenges. Workers came across a gaping hole on West Bay Street in front of the caves. There were also several road closures throughout New Providence as a result of large sea swells yesterday afternoon, including sections of West Bay Street. "In Sandy Port and the caves we are aware that in addition to extensive sea swells washing over the road a large hole has developed near that area," King said. "We know the area near Junkanoo Beach, west of the Hilton, has had some extensive swells. In the Saunders Beach area, a lot of sand washed up on the road and we are working on clearing that." King asked that motorists bear with works officials as sections of that road are closed for repairs. He said those areas should be avoided.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
