LAC SERGENT | Deprived of any means of communication for five days, residents of Lac-Sergent, still without power, fear the worst should a major emergency occur and are demanding answers from Hydro-Québec.
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Many residents of the resort of Portneuf, which has a population of 5,000, are without landline phones, mobile networks and the Internet. Nothing works.
Photo Louis Deschenes
Lac-Sergent City Councilor Jean Leclerc has also been without power for five days.
“Now is not the time for a heart attack,” says City Councilor Jean Leclerc, who wants a concrete plan from the state-owned company for a return to normal life.
“We’re really cut off from the rest of the world,” the 75-year-old worries.
As of Tuesday night, a hundred customers were still without power and it was impossible to know if service would be restored before New Year’s Eve.
“It’s hard to gauge, what I can tell you is that the majority will be recovering power by tomorrow,” said Annie Beaudoin, Hydro-Quebec communications consultant.
She adds that there were about fifty workers in the Portneuf area on Tuesday and that it is not excluded that customers will remain in the dark for a few more days.
“This sector is line 232, it is very damaged. There are trees on the line, it needs secateurs, planters to replace poles,” Ms Beaudoin said.
Go to the fire department
Several residents who were hit by Le Journal were in great distress and feared for the safety of their families.
This is also the case with Guy Boisvert, who has even planned an emergency plan in case of fire. He said to his wife: “If there’s a fire while I’m trying to put it out, you’ll drive off in your car and go to Saint-Raymond to find the fire brigade.”
The family man explains that as of Friday he had to invest more than $400 in propane and gasoline to power his generator.
Not to mention he got the help of a nearby electrician to make changes to the electrical box and drain the sewage.
Photo Louis Deschenes
A Chemin du Club-Nautique resident was still unable to leave her home because trees blocked the small private road leading to her home.
Meanwhile, another Chemin du Club-Nautique resident cannot even leave her home near the lake.
About 25 trees fell on his land, which were swept away by the storm. Some block the small private road that leads to his home.
Michaël Tardif and his wife had no choice but to take their child to the in-laws, who fortunately have a house nearby.
“Even with the generator it’s seven degrees in the house. I’m staying to make sure everything is okay, but I’m running out of patience,” says the man, who fears fire and theft.
Hydro, criticized
Mr Tardif would have liked the city to set up a collection point where people could warm up, fetch water and, most importantly, use a satellite phone in an emergency.
He also criticized the crisis management. He would have liked more transparency from Hydro-Québec.
He welcomed the position of the mayor of Saint-Raymond, who the day before had publicly denounced the lack of communication between the state-owned company and the municipalities, which Michaël Tardif says has borne fruit.
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