A severe winter storm swept across British Columbia's South Coast on Wednesday, December 17, 2025, plunging more than 100,000 homes and businesses into darkness. The intense weather system brought high winds, heavy rain, and snow, causing significant damage to BC Hydro's infrastructure.
Widespread Disruption and Utility Response
The outages were reported across multiple communities on the South Coast, with crews from BC Hydro mobilizing immediately to assess the damage and begin restoration efforts. The utility advised customers to prepare for the possibility of extended outages, as fallen trees and downed power lines were reported in numerous locations.
The scale of the outage, affecting over 100,000 customers, highlights the storm's ferocity. BC Hydro has a history of responding to such events, as referenced in a social media post from November 2023 showing crews at work during a previous major outage.
Context of Emergency Communication
This significant weather event renews questions about provincial emergency alert protocols. The storm's impact comes amid ongoing public discussion, highlighted in recent reports, about why B.C. authorities sometimes hesitate to use the national emergency alert system during disasters. Residents are often left to rely on local news and utility updates for critical information during widespread service failures.
Safety Precautions and Ongoing Recovery
Officials are urging residents to treat all downed power lines as live and extremely dangerous. They recommend having an emergency kit prepared with flashlights, batteries, water, and non-perishable food. For those relying on generators or alternative heat sources, safety reminders about carbon monoxide poisoning and proper ventilation have been issued.
As restoration work continues, the focus for BC Hydro crews is on repairing major transmission lines first to return power to the largest number of people, before addressing smaller, localized outages. The utility is providing estimated restoration times on its website and mobile app as assessments are completed.
