More than half of the residents of the Magdalen Islands are without electricity after a powerful winter storm.

High winds and freezing rain knocked down about 150 Hydro-Québec power poles, leaving 3,600 homes and businesses without power, said Helene Fauteux, a reporter with the community radio station, CFIM.

She said no one was injured, but it's predicted the temperature will drop to –17 C, with wind chills over the next day or so making it feel like –26 and –31.

"The municipality is having generators coming in from the continent. They should arrive tomorrow or through the night with the Hydro Quebec poles to replace the broken poles," Fauteux said.

In the meantime, she said, the Emergency Measures Organization is advising people without generators or wood stoves to go to friends, family or neighbours to stay warm.

Ruth Stevens left the Magdalen Islands to live in Glace Bay, N.S., 25 years ago, but many of her sisters and brothers still live there.

Stevens, 61, called them Saturday night, and she said her brother-in-law was very nervous "on account of the high winds."

"His house was creaking really bad and he was scared," Stevens said.

She said her family is well equipped for power outages, but she is concerned for others who may not be.

The Magdalen Islands, located in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, is part of the province of Quebec. According to the 2006 census, 13,091 people lived on the islands.