Nova Scotia attempts to recover from major storm

(Halifax) Some Cape Breton residents were anxiously awaiting help Tuesday morning after heavy, wet snow blocked driveways and roads.

Snow removal has been underway for several days in Nova Scotia after up to 150 centimeters of snow accumulated in parts of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, including Sydney, the island’s largest community.

Snow plows accompany ambulances to reach people in need of medical attention, while volunteers from a search and rescue organization have been dispatched to help vulnerable people clear snow.

Debbie Crane, 61, said she had not left her home in Whitney Pier, a neighborhood in Sydney, since Friday evening, after snow and blowing snow created snow banks that blocked both entrances and buried his car.

She said Tuesday morning she had already missed a dialysis appointment and was hoping to make it Wednesday. She said she called the city to ask for help with snow removal.

In the meantime, M^me Crane said she had to limit her fluid intake because she didn’t know when she would be able to reach the hospital. She said she drank just enough water to take her medication and chewed gum to hydrate.

Later that day, however, his brother arrived to dig a narrow path to his driveway, and his sister helped dig a path to the street. M^me Crane said a good Samaritan driving a snow plow also helped him before he arrived at the hospital.

Christina Lamey, spokesperson for the municipality, said people who need to go to the hospital can call 911. The call center coordinates ambulance transport with the help of a snow plow.

“The snowplows respond to emergency calls as much as possible, but it is very difficult,” said M.^me Lamey in an email. We are asking people to clear their doors and pathways leading to the street to facilitate access in the event of an emergency. »

Many services interrupted

The municipality has stopped all public transport services and waste collection. The town hall remained closed on Tuesday. Many side streets have not yet been plowed while others only have one lane free.

The municipality asked people to stay at home. “If you are in a position to help others clear snow, do it in your own neighborhood […] Roads are clear for emergency response and travel of essential workers,” she said in a press release.

The provincial government has asked Ottawa for help as provincial and municipal snow plows struggle to clear streets in the northeast regions hard hit by this storm.

Federal Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan said Monday that Parks Canada would send snow removal equipment and the Coast Guard would deploy helicopters. Non-governmental organizations such as the Red Cross will contribute to humanitarian work, the minister said.

John Lohr, minister responsible for Nova Scotia’s Office of Emergency Management, says his government has asked neighboring provinces for help, but needs federal help to maintain public safety.

The local state of emergency declared Sunday in the Cape Breton Regional Municipality is expected to remain in effect for the remainder of the week, to ensure snow removal operations and priority vehicle traffic are not impeded.

The Nova Scotia government says provincial offices in Inverness and Victoria counties, as well as the Cape Breton Regional Municipality, will be closed Tuesday due to snow removal operations. Offices in Pictou, Antigonish, Guysborough and Richmond counties were scheduled to open at noon.

At the same time, cleanup continued in the Halifax region, where 30 to 50 cm of snow was recorded over the weekend.

Erica Fleck, director of emergency management in Halifax, said most roads in the Halifax area have been plowed, but many roads in residential areas need an alternate route.

“A lot of people are going to be grumpy because of the snow plows that are going to go by and leave snow banks at the end of driveways and driveways,” she said in an interview, adding that clearing bike paths and sidewalks is now the priority.