Arviat declares a state of emergency in response to extended power outage
CBC
The hamlet of Arviat declared a state of emergency on Friday in response to days-long power outages in the Nunavut community which have left many residents without heat.
Power outages in Arviat started on Tuesday, when a huge blizzard tore through Nunavut's western Kivalliq Region. In Arviat, Environment Canada reported that winds during the blizzard reached up to 100 km/h.
As of Saturday morning, 53 homes in the 2,800-person community are still without power, according to the hamlet's senior administrative officer, Darren Price.
Arviat Mayor Joe Savikataaq Jr. told CBC News that some people in the community are using Coleman stoves to heat their homes, and several residents have had water pipes burst because of the cold.
Qulliq Energy Corporation, which supplies power to the region, told CBC on Friday that they are working to restore power to Arviat, but were having difficulties getting repair crews into the community because of cancelled flights.
In an update on Facebook on Saturday morning, the power corporation said that repair crews were scheduled to arrive in Arviat at about 1 p.m., local time, and would begin work to restore power as soon as they arrived.