It is January of the year of Our Lord 1998.
Between January 5 and 10, 100mm of freezing rain fell on southern Quebec.
In Dunany, it’s a carnage!
Brian Gauley, the contractor who looked after our house in our absence, said that to get to Dunany, one of his men had to walk in front of his truck, chain saw in hand, to clear Dunany Road and allow him to continue on his way.
At that time, we only came to Dunany on weekends. We had acquired Leonard and Minnie Gain’s house in the spring of 1996. Living in Montreal, we were curious to see with our own eyes the state of our second home. So we came to Dunany sometime towards the end of January.
Today I am sharing with you the photos I took during this visit.
In Dunany, it took no less than 30 days before the homes were reconnected. If my memory serves me well, linemen from Detroit came here to support their colleagues from Hydro-Québec
The ice crisis left more than half of Quebec homes and hundreds of establishments such as residences for the elderly without electricity. In the neighbouring Laurentides region, Montérégie, pylons and transmission lines that were thought to be indestructible collapsed.
Approximately 15,000 Canadian Armed Forces soldiers were deployed to ensure the safety of citizens and provide emergency services.
It is estimated that this event cost the lives of 16 people and caused losses of $1.6 billion for the Canadian economy. More than 700,000 claims – worth a total of $1.4 billion – were made to insurance companies.
Hydro-Québec had to invest $2 billion to strengthen its electricity transmission network.
Feel free to share your memories in the comments section.
I remember it well, had to phone my brother in Syracuse, NY to send me candles as I didn’t have any more and they were pretty well sold out around. Meals were on the fireplace insert and waster was used for toilets. Sponge baths kept us clean. We wore the same clothes clothes longer than usual. The kids were fascinated with the snapping sounds trees made as they fell to the ground under the weight of the ice that had accumulated on them. Luckily, it wasn’t overly cold, that I remember, like in Spring. No generator then, and lots of logs burned in the fireplace for warmth.
The storm made a mark in everybody’s memory. Thanks for reliving it again for us.
I also have my memories. We went to stay with Jane & Maurice Pilon in Lorraine for 4-5 days with the boys, the dog and the hamster 🤣.
When we were able to go back home it was almost disappointing.
I worked at the Mackay Center & they opened it for disabled and deaf children that were not coping in shelters. The boys & I went in to help and it was actually a wonderful experience for all of us ❤️
Thank you Jacques for sending all the “during & after” photos of our beautiful Dunany
😊 Jean
I also have my memories. We went to stay with Jane & Maurice Pilon in Lorraine for 4-5 days with the boys, the dog and the hamster 🤣.
When we were able to go back home it was almost disappointing.
I worked at the Mackay Center & they opened it for disabled and deaf children that were not coping in shelters. The boys & I went in to help and it was actually a wonderful experience for all of us ❤️
Thank you Jacques for sending all the “during & after” photos of our beautiful Dunany
😊 Jean
Great story Jacques! 25 years ago! How can that be?