(Halifax) Shortages of bread, milk and other essentials were reported Thursday in communities in southwestern Newfoundland, isolated by a storm that dumped nearly 200 millimeters of rain over the area, sweeping away roads and bridges.
In eastern and northern Nova Scotia, task crews deployed to pump water from basements and repair roads flooded by torrential rains that hit parts of Atlantic Canada for three days.
In the coastal town of Port aux Basques in the southwest corner of Newfoundland, repairs were underway on several roads, including the Trans-Canada Highway, and a helicopter was used Wednesday to rescue residents stranded in a yurt.
Robert Hinks, a resident, confirmed that the town’s supplies were running out.
“There is no bread in town at the moment, there are no eggs to buy, fresh milk is running out,” Hinks said Thursday from Port aux Basques. “People go to gas stations and refuel for fear of running out of fuel (but) you can’t go anywhere anyway,” he added.
In nearby Codroy, Fire Chief Brian Osmand said four of the area’s roads were washed away, leaving 14 families isolated.
“We are making arrangements to make sure their needs are met,” said Osmand, as his team pumped water from the basement of the Hynes Chicken Villa in Tompkins, Newfoundland.
Mr. Osmand said the Codroy Valley Volunteer Fire Department, which serves 16 communities, had already pumped out more than a dozen basements as of Thursday. The fire chief confirmed that surrounding communities missed their regular weekly deliveries of bread, milk and eggs on Wednesday, causing shortages.
“We may be able to airlift essential items into the community,” added the fire chief.
Mr. Osmand said that on Wednesday evening, when the storm was at its worst, the rain fell at an incredible rate. “It was terrible,” he said, adding that it was too windy to use the fire truck.
“We were making calls for the fire department, and there were times when we couldn’t see a foot in front of us. And it wasn’t because there was fog – it was just rain. It was horrible. It’s the heaviest rain I’ve seen, and I’m 61 years old. […] It was like being hit by 10 buckets of water at the same time. ”
Marine Atlantic announced Thursday that the ferry would temporarily go to Argentia, much further east of the island, to ensure people and supplies can reach Newfoundland. This route is usually only offered during the summer months.
The storm slowly crossed the Atlantic region between Monday and Wednesday. Feeding on tropical moisture in the Caribbean, it dumped record amounts of rain on many communities, including Port aux Basques, where 165mm fell in the past two days.
In the Codroy valley, north of Port aux Basques, a weather station recorded 195 mm of rain. In addition, a gust in the Wreckhouse area reached 141 km / h.
In Nova Scotia, nearly 30 roads and bridges were closed by the time the rain stopped Wednesday. Most damage was reported in Antigonish County in northeastern Nova Scotia, and in Victoria and Inverness counties in northern Cape Breton.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston on Thursday said storm damage could “probably” amount to “at least $ 7 million,” which will require federal help, he said. he says. “There is a lot of work to be done to rebuild, repair, restore,” Houston told reporters.
Some communities along the northeastern coast of Cape Breton received more than 200mm of rain and several meltdowns forced the closure of the scenic ‘Cabot Trail’, a scenic route that runs through Highlands National Park. of Cape Breton.
At Ingonish River on the east side of the Cabot Trail, flooding and gullying were reported amid heavy downpours that dumped a record 278mm of rain. On Thursday, the 15-kilometer stretch between Neils Harbor and Ingonish remained impassable, leaving the two communities isolated.
The settlements separate the two communities from hospitals, long-term care facilities and local high schools.
“It’s still a very unstable road,” said Robie Gourd, the park’s asset manager. Many culverts have aged poorly. They may appear intact on the top, but the bottom is nonexistent ”.
Mr Gourd said one of the park’s workers, Davey Fraser, sustained minor injuries when his vehicle plunged into a large dark hole on the road near Little Smokey on Wednesday night.
As for road repairs, Mr. Gourd said he could not provide a schedule, but stressed that park staff are moving quickly to complete the necessary work.
“It’s a world-class destination and an iconic route, but it’s also the lifeblood, social and economic part of the communities here,” he said. It is a serious closure and we are doing everything we can to open the road as quickly as possible ”.