What you need to know about storm cleanup and where to get help

About 1,900 customers in eastern Ontarioare still without power Sunday afternoon, more than two weeksafter a destructive, fatal windstormswept through the area May 21.

More than 350,000 customers in the wider Ottawa-Gatineauregioninitially lost power. CBC's count was about115,000 the morning of May 25, 63,000May 27 and6,000 on June 2.

• Here's how long the May 21 storm has knocked out power
• Some rural eastern Ontario residents could still be without power for weeks

On Sunday afternoon, Hydro Ottawa reported that just 37 customers were still without power, compared to 180,000 immediately after the storm. Those numbers includesome outages related to planned jobs,required tomake repairs or to remove debris, branches or trees,as part of Hydro Ottawa's cleanup after the storm.

Hydro One, meanwhile, reportedSunday afternoonthat approximately 1,864customers were without power in eastern Ontario, mostly near Tweed, Ont., and Bancroft, Ont.That's down from Saturday morning when that figure wasapproximately2,500 customers.

Power has been restored to all but a handful of localHydro-Qubec customers.

WATCH | Outdoorsman's wood hut saved boys from deadly storm

Hawkesbury, Ont., trio survives severe thunderstorm in timber shelter

2 years ago

Duration 3:14

Warning: Video content may be disturbing to some viewers. Avid outdoorsman Tyson Peers was outside working on a timber shelter with his brother Cam Deslauriers, 12, and Cam's friend Miguel Larocque, 11, when a severe thunderstorm hit on May 21.

Travel

The mayor hasreiterated duringnews conferences that drivers should becourteous and treatintersections withbrokentraffic lights as four-way stops.

OC Transpolists some routes with storm-related detours.

The National Capital Commission has a list of trails and parkways closed by fallen trees and debris. It asks people to avoid the Greenbeltfor the time being.

Schools

TheOttawa-Carleton District School Board (OCDSB)'sMerivaleHigh School reopenedThursday and all schools have returned to in-person learning.

The Ottawa Catholic School Board (OCSB) said on Sunday that power had been restored to all of its schools, including Sacred Heart High School in Stittsville, whichwill be open on Monday.

Of the schools under the French Catholic school board in eastern Ontario,Conseil des coles catholiquesCentre-Est(CECCE), onlycole lmentaire catholique Terre-des-Jeunesin Ottawa remained closed.

None of the schools under the French public school board in eastern Ontario,Conseil des coles publiques de l'Est de l'Ontario(CEPEO), say they remain closed.

Waste and debris

Ottawa has advice for disposing of specific types of debris, including trees, stumps and shingles.

"Photos should be taken before removal to provide evidence of the condition of the tree should there by future inquiries," the city said in previous statements.

• Arborists face tall order to keep up with demand after windstorm

There's a section on its storm page about what to do if a tree falls from city property onprivate property. Another section lists ways people can volunteer to help clean.

Regular curbside pickup is continuing in Ottawa.

WATCH |Why what hit Ottawa was worse than the ice storm or 2018 tornadoes

Saturdays storm caused more widespread damage than 2018 tornadoes, Hydro Ottawa says

2 years ago

Duration 1:26

Joseph Muglia, director of system operations for Hydro Ottawa, says Saturdays severe thunderstorm damaged nearly three times the number of hydro poles across a much wider area compared to the 2018 tornadoes, complicating efforts to restore electricity.

Gatineau asks residents to put tree debris out during bulky wood collection day.

People in Clarence-Rockland, Ont.,can put tree debris out for pickup.The city recommends leaving it on your yard or ditch near the road so equipment doesn't damage driveways.

Otherservices

In late May,Tweedsaid people couldcome to its municipal office at 255 Metcalf St., to fill water containers.

Emergency aid for food and potentially medical expenses may be available in Ottawa. They can go online or call 311. Ontario Works recipients can call their case worker.

People in Gatineau in need of food are asked to callMoisson Outaouaisat819-669-2000, extension203.

Renfrew County is offering relief loans to qualifying small businesses.

All of Ottawa's municipal child-care centres and client service centresare open again. TheCentennial and Emerald Plaza Ottawa Public Library branches are open.

Ottawa residents are asked to only call 311 if it is urgent. Ottawa Public Healthsays people can call613-580-6744 for information on food safety and mental health help.

That city says because of the focus on storm response, other less-urgent operations may have been delayed, like park waste collection, grass mowing andsidewalk repair.

Have an important closure or support centre we missed? Please send us an email.