FREDERICTON – For many throughout New Brunswick this week, washing your hair has become a luxury. Without power, many have been turning to gyms to take a shower.
A hair salon in Fredericton wants to make that the last thing those without power worry about.
Klub Soda is offering free shampoo and styling to anyone still without power.
“Myself being without power until probably Friday, I know how just getting your hair shampooed and styled can make that much of a difference and take you’re mind off of the turmoil and disarray that we’re going through right now,” said hair stylist Mandy Casey.
It’s that kind of helping hand that can be found throughout N.B. communities, now five days after the province was hit by post-tropical storm Arthur.
As of Wednesday morning, 46,000 customers across the province were still offline. About 25,000 of them are in Fredericton and area.
“Terrible. It’s quite bad. You go into a room and turn on a light, and there is no light, and you listen to the radio, but there is no radio. I guess you’re not ready for it until it happens,” said Wanda Williams, as she filled containers outside Willie O’Ree Place, a facility that’s been open for people who need to take showers or recharge their cellphones.
That’s also where you’ll find Paul Gilmore.
Gilmore has been volunteering all week, keeping the canteen in the facility open for those who need a coffee or food.
“Volunteers are a huge huge part of what’s going to make this come out in the wash as a positive,” he said.
Gilmore lost power but is the lucky owner of a generator, something that’s become hard to find since the storm hit. So he’s keeping his neighbours powered too.
“We’re running cables across the street to them and the generator has been around to about five houses now keeping power going, so as it comes on I just move it to the next place,” he said.
Provincial Emergency Measures Organization has been releasing updates throughout the week.
Because of outages, some areas of the province are experiencing a lack of cellular and landline services. EMO is asking residents who do not have the use of a phone or feel unsafe, to move to a safer location.
A total of 247 line and power crews are working to get 80 per cent of customers back online by late Wednesday. The remaining 20 per cent should be back on by the weekend.
Horizon Health advises the public that health centres in Stanley, Doaktown and Woodbridge are closed until further notice.
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