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2-The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, September 9, 2003 {tBlackout W0-e 'e l out the red carpet for thle new 2004 mnode/s 2 0 04 E ch fl-of ori0 H aruie t.Srii, 1 ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ e 54 Lir, -yine,> 9 AM""~ mire ss the t/ HC lriie _n op t eea accssr s W'4" dia t o.h~î )cM/CD, 03. A R-1i.Iotais. ket ý.ere f, , ý'erO~i dauhe.e ari bai(RS COSL tlaWil estimated $7509000 By JASON MISNER The Champion Last month's mammoth power blackout cot Halton Region as much as $750,000, but officials are atll firming evesything up before they fire off the fmnal blill to the provincial govemment for reimbursement. The Eves govemment anoaounced late last month a plan to compensate munici- palities for costs incurred due to North America's worst-ever energy blackout. And even though the Province is now in the throes of an election set for October 2, Halton officials are stili holding the mncum- bent govemrment to its word that ià will pro- vide somne form of compensation. "Now that things are in a different place because of the clection, hopcfully (provin- cial) staff will still be able to follow through with the information given," sald Adelina Urbanksi, Halton's commissioner of social and community services. She was thc acting CAO during the power crunch. Part of the problem with the compensa- tion announcement is tisas the govemrment didn't specify details of how the clainis system will work and how mucis will in fact be reimbursed, and the election may have muddied those compensation waters. Halton MPP Ted Chudlcigh couldn't be reached by press tiane to help clarify thc compensation procets. An eighs-pagc, wide-ranging report was released publicly by the Region Thursday and concludcd Halton forked out betwccn $500,000 and $750,000 to deal with thc unprccdented power shortage. T'Me fmnancial impact pertained mostiy to Uic initial hours spent dealing with the ci- sis after thc August 14 blackout hit shortly after 4 p.m. T'he report alto isighlightcd how the Region's emergcncy reaponse team sprang into action when Uic blackout hit how offi- cials consmunicated to residents during Uic blackout and suggestions Uic Region made to businesses on how to reduce power usage while Uic supply was wsstable. One of Uie main areas impacted, regional- ly by Uic power sisortage was policing, Uic report stated..The police service is a region- al responsibility. Ail police officiers on duty were held over the aftemoon of August 14. The night shift was called in early and police was able to double Uie number of staff working within two hours. In addition, auxiliary officers were cailed in to iselp direct traffic gridlock due 10 mal- functioning lights, and plain cloUica dectec- tives were assigned to patrol darkened neighborisoods and business areas for accu- rity resons. Extra fuel was needed for police vehi- dles, which was a another coat. "At no trne was public safcty compro- mised or police cffcctivcness marginal- ized," Uic report stated. Other areas affected as noted in Uic report include: ~- I > ~'~ J *Ambulance services - alto a regional - responsibility - recailed management staff Steelesfrom vacation and held over administrative 400 venu 905staff in order to meet demands for mncreased service. Off-duty paramedics www.mlltontoyota.com were called in and on-duty paramedics qV okW Âim.C. ts%idaon M246D)oHtet oHro odes Uoeus reMuj, m. mad buMaSemf indMkqN"( PDE mg I59fl.10/$lO15/5260 Fms5gand PD. rd ir wrcel vr tsif hngsi odr1 In RP ftw on 0 5)8%eUllaweeIN & ci 1 80Eo dIz (Modei K1 lnMA or K1125%). on 48 os waI8a mr&~ of s6.% on Cortiffli0<SGm (models 8R358 or BR&2EPBiI34MA or KR34EPNAi(XWA), Dm palihm of staff four additional ambulances. i i w354 oR h& le eq imd. RI rea l w u iW sep si due on dhm ety iqeso* of525575 or MW5iL ar $MM482 dSe on Ecio H& orCotwAs5oo Tod Wm o5igâiof aI(uai or afoui) .3350842 or Etafefo enrtr was used to cioia sMoteo< or07 57/.ltfqWfldmI oraR M 12.Mo $0MT0, hu r llaleddb&Pum e r 19 2 rape48a.WI i,,"oeMrokssapq9Jý,I