Storm Jari causes extensive power outages across Finland, technician shares recovery efforts

After several long days and nights of work, maintenance technician Juho Nykänen from Elvera shares his experiences following Storm Jari, which caused extensive power outages across Finland. With more than 80,000 households affected at one point, the crews have been busy restoring electricity. Nykänen notes the risks involved in their assessments, especially due to the forceful wind gusts; fortunately, he mentions there have been no major close calls during this particular storm.

The storm has also presented challenges for electricity network companies, Caruna and Elenia. Jukka Ihamäki, Caruna’s regional manager, explains that the lengthy storm and short daylight in November have complicated recovery efforts, and traveling on the roads has been slow.

Incidents have occurred in the past during similar restoration efforts. Ihamäki references an accident during the early November Lyly storm, where a worker fell and injured his leg with a chainsaw. In a serious incident from four years ago, an electrician suffered multiple fractures and a lung injury after a tree fell on power lines.

Both companies prioritize safety in their operations. Elenia has organized safety academies and encourages technicians to report any observations they make in the field. Paananen emphasizes that certain tasks, like working on poles, become nearly impossible during storms due to heightened risks, resulting in a focus on mapping out problem areas rather than immediate repairs. He stresses the importance of waiting for daylight to ensure safe working conditions.

Paananen reminds the public that while they can report outages, any issues concerning trees around power lines must be handled by professionals exclusively.