Nova Scotia Power crew on the ground assisting with power restoration in Tampa

Power line technicians from Nova Scotia are on the ground in Tampa, Florida, assisting in power restoration after major damage from Hurricanes Milton and Helene.

A crew of 35 people from Nova Scotia Power arrived in Tampa this weekend and began work Saturday to restore electricity to some of the tens of thousands of people in the dark after Milton hit last week.

Paul Breski, restoration lead for the province’s utility, says crews are working 16-hour shifts dealing with downed trees and splicing lines to reconnect power.

The Nova Scotia crew joins hundreds of Canadian line workers who have travelled to the southern United States to help with restoration since Hurricane Helene hit in late September.

Breski says there’s “a lot of destruction” in the city, and the impacts of Hurricane Milton appear similar to what Nova Scotia experienced during post-tropical storm Fiona in 2022.

What’s very different, Breski says, is the type of wildlife crews may encounter when working on reconnecting power.

“Back home, ticks are the big thing we worry about when you go in the woods, not snakes and gators. So it's a bit of an adjustment on that.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 13, 2024.

The Canadian Press