Just after 4 pm Thursday a power grid black out hit 50 million people across Ontario and the eastern United States.
In Sudbury as power blacked out across the city, staff at Sudbury Regional Hospital's three sites sprang into to action to continue services.
"Our staff handled the blackout extremely well because they were well prepared for an emergency of this magnitude," said Dean Johnson, communications officer with the Sudbury Regional Hospital.
"Our staff stepped in right away at all three hospitals and made sure all the patients' needs were taken care of."
The hospitals already have a tested emergency contingency plan and it was executed with precision and speed.
"We have an immediate power supply back-up for three days with our diesel generators and we also have supplies of fuel if the power outage lasts longer," said Johnson.
"Our emergency plans have been tested and everything went according to plan."
The entire hospital staff from nurses to maintenance workers answered the call of the emergency situation.
"Staff stayed on right through the entire crisis and continue to stay on," said Johnson. "I can't say enough about their dedication to the patients."
The hospitals immediately cancelled all regular visiting hours when the power outage struck the Nickel City.
"Regular visiting hours were cancelled because we have limited lighting in the buildings and we wanted to limit the number of people in the hospitals," said Johnson.
"We know the people of Sudbury will understand."
Until the power is restored at the hospitals, all elective surgeries, diagnostic testing and out patient procedures are cancelled.
"It's standard hospital protocol in an emergency situation," said Johnson. "When the power is restored we will begin those procedures almost immediately."
As of 11 am today (Friday), the Laurentian hospital site was still without power.
