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KANGIQTUGAAPIK/CLYDE RIVER
Clyde River was under an unnecessary state of emergency much of Friday after the hamlet was not made aware that its main power generator, which failed at about 4 p.m. Thursday, was back in operation before dawn broke.

"We're cautiously optimistic that the situation will be taken care of in the next 24 hours," hamlet emergency measures co-ordinator Troy Jenkins said Friday afternoon. "Until we lift the state of emergency, we're continuing to ask residents to conserve as much energy as possible."

However, Qulliq Energy Corporation communications manager George Hickes said power was restored early Friday morning.

"As of 3:55 a.m., everything was back and kosher," Hickes said, noting the Department of Community and Government Services was updated on the situation.

"There was a generator down for maintenance," he said, "and then one failed, so the remaining generator wasn't enough to keep the whole community up to power. They just rotated until they got the other generator online."

Despite suggestions otherwise, QEC did not arrange to bring in a backup generator.

Mayor Apiusie Apak made regular updates about the situation on community radio Thursday and Friday, reminding people to continue to conserve energy.

"We have full power to the community because of the great job the community has been doing in keeping our power use to the basic necessities," Jenkins said.

Concerned about residents who rely on electricity for heat, the emergency measures team went door-to-door Thursday night to ensure all were safe.

"Anybody who needed shelter could go to the community school, where we had an area set up for people who needed some warmth and some food," he said, noting several took up the offer.

He said he was looking forward to communications from QEC on the situation.

"We're anxious to find out what the long-term prognosis of the problem is and to ensure they have a plan in place to ensure the safety of the community is paramount."

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