Eastern Canada Ice Storm Disaster of 1998 - Situation Report - Thursday, 15 January, 1998 12:35PM

Situation Report - Thursday, 15 January, 1998 12:35PM

Telephone Lines

The number of telephone lines out of service is today approximately 3,000 (Quebec and Ontario). Significant improvement - was 30,000 lines yesterday.

Bell still maintains it's objective to have it's network fully operational for Monday 19 of January.

There are 1,200 Bell Canada workers on duty in the Quebec Region, not 11,000 as reported by mistake yesterday (January 14).

Stolen Generators

Major problem for telephone and cellular companies. In Ontario, 50 generators were stolen from Bell Canada. One person is "full time" assigned to this task by Industry Canada to help the telecommunications companies. In Quebec, Industry Canada had the support of the "Suret du Quebec" for a patrol of the cellular sites and from DND (Via the Provincial EMO) to fly over the sites by helicopter in order to discourage theft.

Cellular, MSAT and Telecommunications Sites

A mission with DND and Telecommunications companies was deployed yesterday to send crews to Mont St-Bruno and Mont Yamaska. Those sites are still not accessible and major repairs are needed to the tower structure. Industry Canada is involved by facilitating commercial support (Tower, cables etc.) from our emergency telecommunications inventory.

Industry Canada, Quebec Region is calling each of the telecommunications carriers to get a situation update. Micro-wave structures resisted the Ice Storm very well.

Industry Canada has started to prepare an inventory of all MSAT equipment that could be available for this emergency.

General Situation

The telecommunications infrastructure has been improved a lot during the last two days.

Industry Canada, Emergency Telecommunications is pleased to provide additional support to the GEOCC "Generator WG" by deploying Marie Lefebvre full time. Marie will support the Generator WG and will be in touch will our district and regional offices across Canada if technical expertise is required.

End of Report