Montreal Power Outage: Damage, Disruption, and Two Deaths Investigated

The recent power outage in Montreal has left significant damage and disruption in its wake. This event, which lasted over three days in sub-zero temperatures, has led to investigations into two fatalities potentially linked to the blackout. The incident began on January 24, when an equipment failure at the Hampstead substation disabled electricity for thousands of residents, particularly in the Notre-Dame-de-Grâce area.

Extent of the Outage

Hydro-Québec reported that tens of thousands of customers were affected by the outage. Residents faced not only power loss but also subsequent issues like burst pipes and shortages of water as temperatures plummeted. Many individuals, like Jane Critchlow, experienced severe property damage. Critchlow explained that her home suffered extensive damage due to frozen pipes that subsequently burst.

Investigations into Fatalities

• At least two deaths have been reported during the outage.
• A 66-year-old woman was found deceased by firefighters during a wellness check.
• An 87-year-old woman, Sheila Padmore, died after being discovered unresponsive in her home following the blackout.

The Quebec coroner’s office is currently investigating these tragedies to determine their causes.

Community Response

Local residents have expressed their concerns regarding Hydro-Québec’s handling of the outage. Some criticized the company’s communication regarding the duration of the power disruption and the measures taken to inform affected families. Steve Shivalofsky, a neighbor to the Padmore family, stated that the lack of information could have prevented the tragic death of an elderly resident.

Legal Actions Against Hydro-Québec

A class-action lawsuit has been filed against Hydro-Québec by Lex Group Inc. This legal action claims that the utility failed to uphold its responsibility to provide reliable service. Residents in the borough of Côte-des-Neiges–Notre-Dame-de-Grâce and surrounding municipalities are seeking compensation for various damages, including:

• Property damage
• Additional living expenses (hotel stays, food costs)
• Hospitalization or death of family members due to the outage

This lawsuit must be authorized by a judge to proceed. Hydro-Québec has stated it is reviewing the application but has not commented on specifics of the legal claims.

Hydro-Québec’s Response

Pascal Poinlaine, a spokesperson for Hydro-Québec, claimed that the company maintained constant communication with the affected communities. He stated that they initiated automated calls, coordinated with local services, and conducted door-to-door outreach to ensure residents were informed. However, he recommended that customers affected by property damage should contact their insurers for compensation inquiries.

As investigations continue and community frustration mounts, it remains to be seen how Hydro-Québec will address these issues and whether measures will be implemented to prevent future occurrences of such outages.