Extreme winter weather cuts power and blocks access to remote Vancouver Island communities

Officials say extreme winter weather conditions have made roads to Tahsis and Zeballos on Vancouver Island near-impassable, and they're urging residents to stay off them.

The remote villages are connected to the rest of the island by forest service roads. The road to Zeballos, in the northwest coast of the island,also connects to the Ehattesaht/Chinehkint, Nuchatlaht, and Ka:'yu:'k't'h'/Che:k:tles7et'h' First Nations.

The situation is compounded by the fact that much of the region has also been under a power outage since the early hours of Tuesday. Wet, heavy snow has damaged transmission lines and infrastructure in several places, which are currently only reachable by helicopter. B.C. Hydro says it hopes to restore power on Thursday, but that repairs are weather-dependent.

To help residents, warming centres have been set up in the communities. In Zeballos, where the road might not be improved until Jan.14, prescription medication is being flown in by helicopter. Food will be sent to warming centres as well.

Shaun Koopmanwith the Strathcona Regional Districthopes thatsupport willhelp convince people to stay homeand not risk getting into trouble on the roadand placefirst responders at risk, too.

He's also asking residents to be patient towardroad crews and "to show that we don't expect them to work into the ground and work into unsafe conditions."

The road to Tahsis is expected to be in better shape in the next few days, but officials there are worried about vulnerable residents.

"We have a lot of seniors in this town," saysmayor Martin Davis, "so our concern is making sure people have somewhere to go, and they can be kept warm."

The village will keep its warming centre open overnight, so residents without a wood stove or generatorcan spend the night.