Dozens of Hydro Ottawa workers are returning home after restoring power to hundreds of New York State residents left in the dark by this month's severe snowstorms.

The storms, which ravaged the East Coast, toppled numerous power lines, blew in nearly a metre of snow in some places and left almost a million people without power.

The latest storm hit Tuesday and is continuing to cause power outages across the region.

"There is never a hesitation [for us] to help out a customer that's without power and that's within our realm to safely restore," said Joseph Muglia, a director at Hydro Ottawa who oversaw the team's efforts.

"No utility could handle a situation like that all on its own."

'Just don't have the resources'

The first storm hit March 1 and lasted for days.

Like many others, a utility company at Pearl River, N.Y., made a national call for resources to help restore power and clean up the wreckage left behind.

On March 2, Hydro Ottawa sent 15 workers across the border to help.

"A company that size, even a company our size, most companies, just don't have the resources to deal with a widespread storm like that," Muglia said.

He added Ottawa crews were able to restore power to hundreds and possibly thousands of people affected by the storms.

Hydro Ottawa sent 15 workers across the border March 2 — and 15 more soon afterward when a second storm hit. (Hydro Ottawa)

Hydro Ottawa crews work to restore power in New York State after recent major snowstorms toppled trees and knocked down power poles. (Hydro Ottawa )

Numerous trees toppled over power lines, leaving thousands of people in the dark. (Hydro Ottawa)

'They were just happy to see us'

When a second storm arrived March 7, another group of Hydro Ottawa workers took a bus across the border to Middleton, N.Y.

Dozens of trees had fallen on power lines, leaving homes and schools without utilities.

"[There was] not much damage that we saw to houses luckily, but lots of damage to the lines," said Nick Levac, a supervisor at Hydro Ottawa who travelled with the second group of workers.

Nick Levac, the distribution operations supervisor for Hydro Ottawa, went down to New York State with a team after severe snowstorms hit the area. (CBC News)

Levac and his team stayed in Middleton for about a week. He said the residents there were grateful for the extra help.

"Lots of thank-yous and very generous people asking if we needed water or coffee. They were just happy to see us. Some of them were out of power for seven to 10 days," said Levac.

Despite long 16-hour shifts, the overall atmosphere was upbeat.

"We definitely had lots of laughs, and the humour was kept light and airy, as the days got long," Levac said.

The team left the region early on Wednesday and returned home to Ottawa. Levac said it was important to make the trip because someday Ottawa might need a similar favour.