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Fortis crews taking cover

FortisBC crews will vacate the Turks and Caicos Islands today as another hurricane barrels toward the beleaguered nation.

Hurricane Maria is packing Category 5 winds as it approaches Puerto Rico. It is expected to make landfall on the Turks and Caicos sometime Friday as a Category 4 storm.

Seven Fortis crew members from the Okanagan have been on the islands for nearly two weeks, trying to restore power following the devastating affects of Hurricane Irma.

Spokesperson Nicole Bogdanovic says they were at work Tuesday, but will leave for Miami as a precaution.

She said the move will provide some much-needed rest.

"It's tough for them to leave," she said in an email to Castanet. "They understand how much the country needs electricity to support economic recovery and that restoring power to hotels and other infrastructure quickly will help people support themselves and their families."

She said the workers have successfully restored power to a water treatment plant, medical clinic, hotel and more. They have also been taking down compromised poles as a safety precaution with Hurricane Maria on the way.

The crew is scheduled to be in the Turks and Caicos for three weeks, with a second crew to follow.



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