Towns in Conception Bay North are still shoveling out after a severe blizzard hit the eastern part of the province.
Upwards to 70cms in snow fell on the Avalon Peninsula Friday night and into Saturday morning, burying much of the region under a mountain of snow.
“All of our equipment is holding up,” said Bay Roberts Mayor Philip Wood. “It is becoming difficult to find places to put the snow.”
Work has begun today on widening roads in the town.
Bay Roberts is still urging its residents to stay off the road as it could impede cleanup efforts as its crews work to widen streets in town.
“A tip of the cap to our town workers,” said Wood. “They’ve been working around the clock.”
At the height of the storm Friday night, the Bay Roberts Volunteer Fire Department were called to structure fire on Coppin’s Lane off of Water Street.
Some firefighters arrived at the fire hall on snowmobile, while town crews had to be redeployed to help firefighters get from their homes to the firehall.
“Fellas went above and beyond,” said Fire Chief Rick Edmunds. “It was all you could do to stand up and walk to (the fire). You couldn’t catch your breath with the wind.
“We couldn’t see the building.”
People in the Bay de Verde and Grates Cove area of Conception Bay are still dealing with a power outage. NL Power anticipated it being restored later this afternoon.
Meanwhile, schools in the region are closed for Monday. The College of the North Atlantic campus in Carbonear is also closed for the day on Monday.
“We seem to be doing very well,” said Upper Island Cove Mayor Philip Lundrigan of his town’s state after the storm. “Our biggest challenge yesterday was (clearing the) main roads.”
Lundrigan said his town was in good shape prior to the storm and there was some thought about declaring a state of emergency, however, he elected not to go that route.
“No emergencies popped up,” he said.
Harbour Grace’s cleanup efforts were hampered Saturday when a piece of snow clearing equipment broke down, leaving them short as they tried to get the snow under control.
Harbour Grace Mayor Don Coombs said the town reached out to a private business to help with their efforts.
“Our main focus is to open the roads,” said Coombs. “Our workers are doing great.”
In nearby Carbonear, crews there had to brave the storm on two occasions to escort an emergency vehicle to and from Carbonear General Hospital.
Since, they’ve been working like others in the region to open roadways for residents.
“We’re starting to widen roads,” said Carbonear Mayor Frank Butt. “Everything is good. We have a lot of snow, but we were able to provide all our services.”
