'You learn from every disaster': Province spends $1.5M on gas station generators

The P.E.I. government is spending more than $1.5 million to install generators at gas stations across the province, as the Atlantic hurricane season continues. 

At least 45 stations and general stores will get a generator, the province said Thursday, and businesses will pay for some of it. 

"Whether it's a hurricane or a snowstorm or ice storm, any event that can knock out power for a long period of time, it's important that we have that petroleum access for our backup generation," said Bloyce Thompson, minister of justice and public safety. 

The announcement comes nearly two years after post-tropical storm Fiona caused widespread power outages. Residents lined up in droves for vehicle and generator fuel, and some stations ran out. 

"I think you learn from every disaster and of course there's always an after action plan that you go with," said Thompson. "And this was one of those things that was identified that we need to improve on."

'It was essential to have'

Brittany Martin, manager of the Quick-Stop in Stratford, said in the days after Fiona, people started lining up for fuel at 4 a.m., before the store even opened. 

"It was incredibly busy. It was nonstop down the road," said Martin. 

Her store had a generator before Fiona, she said, and it gets used frequently during power outages in the winter, too.

"It was essential to have the generator," she said. "It was essential to be open for the customers and for the community, and I'm glad that we had it."

Above average hurricane season expected

This year's Atlantic hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, is predicted to be above average, said the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

The group estimates between 17 and 35 named storms, eight to 13 hurricanes, and four to seven major hurricanes this season.

Fuel stations will work with the province's Emergency Measures Organization to display signage indicating they are open when the power is out, the province said, and give regular updates on the availability of fuel during the outage.

The Irving depot on the Charlottetown harbour, which supplies all of P.E.I. with fuel, does not have a permanent generator, but Thompson said there is an agreement in place that back up power will be brought in when needed. 

"This is more than just gas. These are gas stations that also could sell groceries, could sell food," he said.

The province said the stations will prioritize providing fuel to first responders, utility crews and public safety personnel.

Some stations are still in the process of procuring and acquiring the generators, but the province has released a map of stations that already have installed generators, available on the province's website.

All 45 stations are expected to have generators installed and running by the fall.