Schedule of Events
- Monday, January 5, 1998
A winter storm brings snow and ice pellets during the day. Over night the precipitation changes to icy rain which coats trees and electrical wires.
- Tuesday, January 6, 1998
Due to growing ice accumulation on wires and falling branches, Hudson loses electrical power around 2:00 am. School classes are cancelled at Hudson schools and businesses remain closed all over the Montreal area. The freezing rain continues sporadically all day. More and more power failures are reported all over the region. Hudson restaurants operate with generators and by candle light but run out of food as many look for hot meals when they can't cook themselves.
- Wednesday, Jnauary 7, 1998
The freezing rain stops over night but a second front comes through durimg the day and heavy freezing rain starts again in the early afternoon. Hydro-Quebec announces that it has decided to accept offers of help from New England electical utilities and by the evening, the Canadian army is called out to offer logistical support. Damage to trees and to the electical distribution system is already extensive and repairs are expected to take several days. There is a shortage of kerosene, stoves, generators, candles, firewood and flashlight batteries. Radio stations switch over to emergency programming and talk about rationing. In Hudson, power comes back briefly to the centre and west end but goes off again by night fall.
- Thursday, January 8, 1998
Freezing rain over night means that around three million people are now without power. Trees are falling on houses and cars and roads are becoming very treacherous. Several highways are closed and emergency shelters are set up throughout southwestern Quebec. Hydro-Quebec reports the collapse of several transmission towers. Hudson sets up an emergency shelter at Town Hall but people start to congregate at the Legion which keeps warm with its fireplace. Most businesses in Hudson are now closed. Shortages are alleviated as huge tractor trailers with storm relief goods including flashlights, wood, kerosene, lamp oil etc. pour into Montreal.
- Friday, January 9, 1998
After a brief morning break, freezing rain and an icy fog start up in the afternoon as a third front traverses the region. Most movement comes to a halt as roads are blocked by fallen trees and power lines. Hudson escapes fairly lightly compared to areas in Montreal and the south shore. By the evning, four and one half million people are without power. Downtown Montreal is blacked out. All bridges from Montreal island to the south shore are closed due to ice loading. All of the electrical transmission lines feeding Montreal exccet for one link have collapsed as have radio transmission antennas. Highways are closed because the overhead signs have to be de-iced. All train traffic is cancelled as are all flights at Dorval. The number of army troops called out for support is doubled and doubled again. By the end of the day 14,000 soldiers are expected to be mobilized in the biggest peace-time military operation in Canadian history.
- Saturday, January 10, 1998
The storm is over and the day is spent taking stock. Damage to the Hydro-Quebec transmission grid is extensive and, in many areas, the electrical distribution system is also badly damaged. In Hudson, a few lines are down and a few branches are hanging from wires but there is not that much damage to the electrical system. The problem is that a major transmission line has been damaged and so there is no power anywhere in the area. Trees in Hudson have suffered heavy damage and town crews have been kept busy keeping the roads clear of fallen branches. Some businesses open operating with flashlights and do their best to keep Hudsonites supplied with the essentials. The town starts distributing free firewood and works to turn the Legion and Community Centre into a shelter supplied by generator. Estimates for a return of electric power to Hudson range from a few days to two weeks. The hardest hit areas of the south shore are told that it will take at least two weeks to get power back to them. Downtown Montreal remains dark.
- Sunday, January 11, 1998
People in Hudson settle in for the long haul. Since it is likely to be at least several days to get power back, some leave to stay with friends and family, being careful to drain pipes and hot water heaters. Others, reluctant to leave their homes, make do with small generators, kerosene heaters and fireplaces. Still others simply dress in many layers. Those without heat sources in their homes are encouraged to take shelter at the community centre which now has beds set up and where volunteers serve three hot meals a day. A lot of food in danger of spoiling is being donated to shelters by many companies. Beds, blankets and other goods are also starting to pour in from all over the country. Temperatures are staying close to freezing and we're even getting some sun. The ice on the trees and wires has mainly melted and dropped off but the ice on the ground is still thick and hard. In general, Hydro-Quebec doesn't seem to be making much progress. Attempts at re-connecting downtown have failed and very few people seem to be getting power back.
- Monday, January 12, 1998
It is getting colder. At minus 5 deg. C pipes are freezing and bursting and hot water radiators are splitting. People with just a fireplace are having a hard time but the rest of those who are left in Hudson are busy cutting trees, gathering branches, cleaning out the spoiled food from the freezer and just generally keeping house. Without power, keeping the household going is a full-time job. Downtown Montreal has power again but not very much. Premier Bouchard asks all downtown businesses to stay closed until Wednesday to conserve power. Still, the number of people without power is down to around 3 million. No sightings of Hydro trucks in Hudson. Great roast beef dinner at the Legion though.
- Tuesday, January 13, 1998
The temperatures keep dropping. Evening sees minus 12 deg. C. and many people are looking at serious damage if this keeps up. More shelter beds are readied throughout the region as people are expected to give up the struggle to stay in their homes and go to shelters. But...a part of Vaudreuil has power. A Hydro truck inspecting the wires is sighted. It can't be long for Hudson to get power back now.
- Wednesday, January 14, 1998
The high for the day is minus 14 deg. C. Everyone is cold. But power is coming closer. Rigaud now has power and The West Island is mostly back. Wood and kerosene consumption reaches new heights. Everyone now knows all about how to drain a hot water heater and put anti-freeze in the toilets. But not car anti-freeze - bad for the septic system. How do you tell if your power has come back when you're away from home? Phone and see if the answering machine picks up. There's a feeling of urgency as it gets colder but of optimism as well. We-ve almost made it people tell each other over lasagna and sugar pie at the Legion.
- Thursday, January 15, 1998
It went down to minus 18 over night. But, after slowly advancing from Como, all of Main Road had power by 1 pm. On a few streets where wires are down, power will only be restored in a few more days but with neighbours having power, the problem is not as serious as it was. Hudson is getting back to normal. In other areas of the province, there are still 1 million people without power and some will not have it restored for another two weeks. Schools and businesses will only be in full operation next Monday and we'll have to deal with lost time and lost business. But we're grateful to be warm.
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