Update 7:30 p.m.
As of 7:23 p.m., the BC Hydro outage map says more than 11,500 Sunshine Coasters remain without power.
The Sunshine Coast Regional District activated an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) just after 4 p.m. to support other agencies, including BC Hydro and local fire departments.
EOC director Rob Michael said in an email the activation is "not a cause for alarm, but allows the local government to be in a better position to support communication and coordination with responding agencies." He added that the EOC would remain at Level 1 (monitoring) until the situation improves or until they receive a request for further support. (Though at this point no request has been received.)
While DriveBC has no closures listed, trees have fallen all over the Coast so drivers should use caution while driving. As of 5 p.m., Lower Road was blocked at its south access.
Sunshine Coast RCMP advised on Facebook as of just before 8 p.m. there was a tree down at Byng Road on the highway and traffic was single-lane alternating.
Update 6:19 p.m.
Sunshine Coast Regional District activated an Emergency Operations Centre Monday in response to the windstorm so emergency staff "are in a position to provide support to partner agencies such as BC Hydro and local Fire Departments as required," said a statement from the district.
For highway, hydro and weather updates, the SCRD directs residents to Drive BC, the BC Hydro Outages List and Environment Canada.
Fire departments are also reminding residents to immediately report any downed power lines by calling 911 and to stay at least 10 metres away from the lines and not drive over them.
As of 6:20 p.m., thousands were still without power in Pender Harbour, Halfmoon Bay, Sechelt, Roberts Creek, Elphinstone and Port Mellon.
Update 6:11 p.m.
DriveBC no longer has any alerts for Highway 101 in Halfmoon Bay.
A video from Lynn Devost Smith earlier in the day shows dramatic footage of a large tree falling across Highway 101.
Update 5:15 p.m.
Highway 101 has opened to single-lane alternating passenger traffic, according to DriveBC. No commercial vehicles. However, Sunshine Coast RCMP merely says on Facebook the road is open.
Sunshine Coast RCMP also posted on Facebook that Lower Road is blocked in Roberts Creek from Leek Road to Highway 101 and motorists are to avoid the area.
As of 5 p.m. Highway 101 was seeing traffic delays between Roberts Creek and Gibsons because of trees down on powerlines.
Update 4 p.m.
DriveBC estimates that the highway will reopen at 4:45 p.m.
Update: 3:45 p.m.
Sechelt Fire Department confirmed that Highway 101 and Redrooffs are still closed in Halfmoon Bay, however, the highway could be opening soon.
The trees have been cleared from the road, but hydro lines are still down as crews work their way down the Coast towards it. Once the lines are cleared, the highway will be opened.
The 24-hour officer said Redrooffs is still a “big hot mess,” and had no estimate on when it may open.
While Telus has been on the scene, the fire department said to expect another day or two of bad cell service due to downed repeaters and power outages.
Updated 3:30 p.m.
With more than 10,000 customers still without power on the Sunshine Coast, BC Hydro says that they're asking customers to prepare for the possibility of being without power overnight.
"Crews continue to work to repair damage and restore power to customers impacted by today's windstorm. Due to the amount of damage, outages are being addressed in order of priority," said a notice on the service's outage map. "Our first priority is outages involving downed lines and situations posing a risk to public safety. Next, crews will focus on restoring power to critical and municipal services, followed by large outages affecting the highest number of customers, and then to smaller outages."
They remind people to stay back at least 10 metres from downed powerlines and report them to 911.
See more information at https://www.bchydro.com/power-outages/app/outage-map.html.
Updated 2:02 p.m.
The timing for the reopening of Highway 101 in Halfmoon Bay is uncertain.
Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department Chief Ryan Daley confirmed in an email that the highway is closed at Redrooffs and there is no way to access Pender Harbour or Halfmoon Bay from Sechelt (or vice versa), and Redrooffs has many trees down and is shut down.
"They are saying a few hours but can’t be sure how much time it will take," said Daley.
BC Transit has also updated alerts for its Sechelt/Langdale ferry route, with service affecting Beach Road, as well as, Cowrie, Flume, Lower, King, Chaster, Pratt Gower Point, Dougall, Headlands, Franklin, Forbes, Veterans Johnson Roads, as well as Gibsons Way, Highway 101 and Marine Drive.
The number of people without power on the Coast has grown to nearly 12,000.
Updated 1:42 p.m.
Kody Raymond, an administrator on the Halfmoon Bay Fire Department Facebook page posted at about 1 p.m., "Please be advised that Highway 101 on the Sechelt side of HMB is closed in both directions. Redrooffs road is currently closed at Cove Beach in both directions as well. This is all due to trees down on power lines due to the storm. Will be advising when either way is open again."
Updated 1:30 p.m.
BC Transit has alerts active for its Halfmoon Bay and West Sechelt routes, affecting service to Cowrie, Teredo, Norwest Bay, Mason, Shorncliffe, Redrooffs, Evans, Lohn, Fawn, Southwood roadways and Highway 101.
Updated 1:15 p.m.
DriveBC says Highway 101 remains closed in both directions at Redrooffs Road. There's a tree on the road and downed hydro lines.
Updated 1 p.m.
A resident of Mason Road in West Sechelt, Lithena Gibson, said her backyard is full of trees that have come down. It was about 11 a.m. when the power went out and the rains started pounding down, so she was looking out the window. "All of a sudden it sounded like there was a freaking train coming through...the trees, and then all these trees started falling," said Gibson. "I couldn't decipher what trees were falling. There were so many trees coming down.
"Then smash crack...[a tree] landed on the roof." Luckily, the tree just dented the railing and Gibson and her husband were OK, though shaken up.
Have other images, stories or information? Email [email protected] or call 604-885-4811 ext.46223.
Updated 12:47
Sechelt Fire Department said it is still being determined how long the roads will be closed. Falling trees have hit at least two houses in Sechelt this morning and there are many low-hanging power lines and telephone lines knocked loose. As such residents are advised to be cautious wherever they go today and keep an eye out for downed lines or snagged branches that could fall.
Several departments are out working to restore conditions including The District of Sechelt, BC Hydro, Capilano Highway Services, Sechelt Fire Department, Halfmoon Bay Volunteer Fire Department and more.
Updated 12: 24 p.m.
DriveBC reports downed hydro lines at Redrooffs Road with an update to come at 1 p.m.
Updated 12:19 p.m.
Sunshine Coast RCMP report on Facebook: "Sunshine Coast highway closed east of Redroofs leaving Sechelt due to multiple trees down. Expect major delays."
Original story
District of Sechelt reports on Facebook that Highway 101 is closed in two locations:
Near Norwest Bay Road, with a detour up one of the roads between Mason and Norwest, then and down Norwest Bay.
The highway is also closed at Redrooffs with the entrance to Redrooffs closed
The BC Hydro outage map also reports widespread power outages in Secret Cove, Halfmoon Bay, Sechelt, Tuwanek, Wilson Creek, Roberts Creek, Gibsons and Port Mellon, affecting nearly 10,000 customers.
