Why spending millions on trimming trees can mitigate hurricane damage
Just one extreme wind event can knock power out to thousands when branches fall onto lines. The Weather Network's Nathan Coleman reports on the tree-trimming efforts in Nova Scotia.
Get used to seeing more tree trimmers around Nova Scotia.
Nova Scotia Power has nearly doubled its budget for tree trimming, spending 32 million dollars this year alone with plans to spend up to 45 million next year.
“We are seeing more frequent and more severe storms. Hurricane Dorian was in 19. ‘Hurricane Fiona was a year ago. And this year we also had that wildfire and flooding, but definitely more severe storms, and each of those storms had impact on trees,” says Matt Drover, the senior director at NS Power Energy Delivery.
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With more than 32,000 km of power lines across Nova Scotia, just one extreme wind event can knock power out to thousands when branches fall to lines.
“We set a record last September for the warmest waters and other people are suggesting that this year we’ll set an even higher record.
Environment and Climate Change Canada senior climatologist David Phillips says ocean temperatures play a role in the intensity of incoming storms.
The normally cool waters off Atlantic Canada would typically help break hurricanes apart when they reach the region.
READ MORE: The best way to prepare for a hurricane is well ahead of a potential disaster
“They may not be so quick to dissipate this year. They may stay together longer. So instead of hitting and running, they may just come in and take their slow time and of course, we saw with Fiona last year mean, it spent a lot of time over Canadian waters over 5 provinces, and that was one of the reasons why it was such a destructive kind off storm.”
In the event of a repeat, Nova Scotia Power hopes trimming the trees will help lessen the blow.
“Every storm is different so it’s difficult to say exactly where it’s going to impact and exactly what the damage is going to be, but every tree that’s removed will be one less tree that’ll fall on the line.
At Fiona’s peak, nearly 415,000 customers were without power across Nova Scotia.
