Ice accumulated on Dorval mayor Marc Doret’s office window from Wednesday night’s ice storm brings back memories for him.
“Just last night when the power went out in Dorval, I guess it was around 8:00, the first thing I said was, ‘Here we go again,'” he laughed.
Twenty-five years ago, three back-to-back ice storms over six days crippled parts of Quebec and eastern Ontario because of power failures.
“To this day it’s the biggest ice storm in Canada’s history,” said Caroline Des Rosiers, Hydro-Québec spokesperson.
Overnight Wednesday, the freezing rain which caused power outages for thousands in the Montreal region, including about a third of Dorval’s 12,000 households, according to Doret, gave some people the jitters.
In 1998, the blackout left 1.5 million Quebecers in the dark at the start of the coldest time of the year.
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Hundreds of thousands were forced into shelters for weeks and at least 30 deaths were linked to the storm.
Authorities like Doret say, however, lessons were learned and that there have been changes to disaster preparedness and response.
“For example, we don’t let ice accumulate like we used to in the past,” he told Global News.
Hydro-Québec also manages ice buildup differently. Transmission towers are now stronger and there are additional structures to prevent multiple tower collapses.
“Also, we do have mechanisms that would pull down the cables from the weight of the ice without pulling down the actual structures,” Des Rosiers stated.
Environment Canada has also strengthened its relationship with emergency response teams.
“My position didn’t exist in 1998,” said Marie-Ève Giguère, meteorologist with Environment and Climate Change Canada.
“I’m a warning preparedness meteorologist, so I speak to the media and emergency responders preparing them for the event.”
At the municipal level, authorities also have beefed up their preparations by ensuring there are adequate relief supplies.
“Things like having blankets and cots, supplies on site that wasn’t there in those times,” said Doret.
That’s in addition to food supplies and a plan for more shelters, in case they are needed.
Though the ’98 event was an anomaly, according to meteorologists, civil authorities stress that it doesn’t hurt to be prepared.
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