B.C. blackout: More delays expected for power restoration to thousands of B.C. homes

About 24,000 B.C. homes remain without power after a powerful windstorm hit the south coast, and it's likely to be a while longer before crews can fix the damage in some areas.

On Sunday morning, BCHydro said its personnel had restored power to over 550,000 customers since Thursday's storm one of the worst it has seen in 20 years.

But impassable roads blocked by downed power lines means crews can't fully assess the worst of the damagein Vancouver Island communities likeDuncan, Nanaimoand Lake Cowichan andon some of theGulf Islands.

Gulf Islands resident ShakeiraWyndehas been unable to return to her home on GalianoIslandfor five days.

Wynde planned a holiday gathering at her housebut has beenstuck in a hotel near Victoriawhile the prime rib she purchased for the party rots and her credit card bill grows.

"I came to town with just the clothes I was wearing and not even a heavy coat, so I've had to go out and buy more clothes," said Wynde.

Wyndedoesn't know how long she can afford to stay at the hotel, but is thankful she got a room because the hotel is full of stranded islanders.

• Tofino in the dark: Community coping without power

BCHydro said it has brought in additional personnel from Alberta and Eastern Canada to help out, but it still expects it will be several days before power will be restored in hard-hit and remote areas.

In the Lower Mainland, power wasrestored to approximately 3,000 customers on Sunday, but there are still more than 500 customers without electricity. BC Hydro says that even there it could take up to 36 hours before the power is fully restored.

Environment Canada said gusts hit128km/h across Metro Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Fraser Valley on Thursday. The strongest winds were clocked at 144 km/h on a small island nearTofino.

Updates on power outages can be found onBC Hydro's website.