**** HRM Media Release
Municipal post-storm update – September 25, 4 p.m.
The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following updates and impacts to municipal services as a result of Hurricane Fiona.
Tree debris clearing and drop off locations
Crews are working around the clock to clear downed trees and debris.
Motorists are reminded to avoid non-essential travel.
Municipally owned trees that fall on private property are being removed by the municipality. If a tree has fallen in the right of way and is blocking or impeding traffic, a sidewalk, or a bike lane – residents should call 311. For your own safety, residents are reminded to not remove trees in the right of way on their own accord.
Trees located on private property are the sole responsibility of the homeowner. The municipality is not responsible for removing brush and debris from private property.
From Wednesday, September 28 to Wednesday, October 5, there will be a total of eight short-term debris drop-offs at the following locations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:
- 2 Lyle Street, Dartmouth
- 144 Thornhill Drive, Dartmouth
- 26 Thomas Raddall Drive, Halifax
- 50 Cheviot Hill, Porters Lake
- Kinsac Ballfield (near 1703 Beaver Bank Road), Beaver Bank
- Sheet Harbour Community Centre, 183 Pool Rd, Sheet Harbour
- Lake Charlotte Boat Launch, 11475 Highway 7, Lake Charlotte
- Peace Park, 67 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour
There is no charge for using this service. Residents will be responsible for delivering and unloading all materials at these sites at their own risk. Note: bags, construction debris or other waste will not be accepted at these locations.
Residents are also asked to report downed municipal signs, crosswalk lights and street lights to 311.
Solid Waste
Curbside solid waste collection is cancelled for Monday, September 26 in the Halifax peninsula area. A supplemental green cart collection for this area will occur on Monday, October 3. All other areas will receive regular curbside collection of solid waste on Monday, September 26.
If your street is not passable for collection vehicles, your solid waste may not be collected on Monday. For more information, please contact 311.
Residents may set out five bundles of branches if their organics collection is Monday, September 26. Beginning Tuesday, September 27, the municipality is doubling the acceptable amount of branch bundles associated with organics collection so residents may set out 10 branch bundles on their organics collection day. Branches should be tied in armload-sized bundles. No bundle can exceed 75 pounds and no individual piece can be more than four feet long or larger than eight inches in diameter. Up to 20 paper bags of yard waste will also be accepted.
Comfort centres
Comfort centres are currently open at the following locations:
- Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre, 1583 Beaver Bank Road, Beaver Bank | 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch #58, 23566 Nova Scotia Trunk 7, Sheet Harbour | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Prospect Road Community Centre, 2141 Prospect Road, Hatchet Lake | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Moser River Community Hall, 28975 Highway 7 | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Eastern Shore Community Center (Musquodoboit Harbour Arena), 67 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour | 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Fairview Family Resource Centre, 6 Titus Street | 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
- Fire Station 62, 2417 Old Sambro Road | 2 p.m. to 9 p.m.
These locations will remain open as needed and further locations may be opened if necessary. Residents can proceed to these centres anytime; however, they are advised to travel only when it is safe to do so.
The locations vary depending on which communities have been impacted and may change on a daily basis. Comfort centres are generally located in municipal facilities where they exist. The hours vary depending on the type of impact on communities.
Comfort centres provide food and water, as well as a place to recharge devices and receive up-to-date information, when residents are impacted by prolonged power outages, extreme temperatures or other significant events.
Evacuation centre
The Canada Games Centre (26 Thomas Raddall Drive, Halifax) remains open to residents impacted by structural damage to their homes. This location will remain open as needed.
For any emergency situations, residents are advised to call 911.
Helping support those experiencing homelessness
In partnership with the Province of Nova Scotia, the East Dartmouth Community Centre was opened as an emergency shelter for those experiencing homelessness from Friday, September 23 and closed today at noon. Approximately 92 people stayed at the emergency shelter.
Those staying at the shelter were provided with transportation by the municipality.
Municipal staff and volunteers are still conducted wellness checks during the hurricane to check on the safety of anyone who chose not to leave an encampment or outdoor sheltering location.
Municipal offices
As the municipality continues to assess and respond to the aftereffects of Hurricane Fiona, safety is our top priority. All municipal offices will be closed on Monday, September 26; however, employees who can work from home will do so. This will support efforts to minimize traffic on our roads, while crews undertake clean-up and power restoration work.
All essential services, as well as 311, operations crews and Halifax Transit are maintaining operations.
Parks, Halifax Public Gardens and Recreation Centres
All-weather fields will reopen Monday, September 26.
Ball diamonds and sport fields will remain closed today and Monday, September 26.
The Halifax Public Gardens will remain closed today and Monday, September 26.
All recreation facilities that are not being used for essential services will remain closed on Monday, September 26.
Due to safety concerns, Shubie Park and Point Pleasant Park will remain closed today and Monday, September 26 given the presence of fallen trees, as well as broken and hanging branches. Residents are still strongly advised to avoid visiting other municipal parks until any damage has been addressed, which may take several days. Please exercise particular caution in Sir Sandford Fleming Park, which also has many downed trees and branches.
Camp Hill and Fairview Lawn cemeteries are closed today but will reopen tomorrow, Monday, September 26; however, some areas may be closed off as crews continue clean-up efforts.
Please be advised that many municipal recreation centres are without power and will remain closed today. Residents are advised to call ahead to their local recreation centre for updates. Contact information for municipally-operated facilities is available online.
Halifax Transit
All Halifax Transit bus, Access-A-Bus and ferry services have resumed as of start of service this morning.
Detours and delays may still occur for some routes due to downed trees, power outages and debris. For updates on service disruptions, visit their website and follow @hfxtransit on Twitter.
For more information on municipal service impacts due to Hurricane Fiona, visit our website.
Halifax Public Libraries
For the latest information on the status of all Halifax Public Library locations and services, please visit their website.
Burn ban
A burn ban will be in place across the municipality for the next 48 hours. Residents are urged not to burn tree debris.
For the latest updates on response efforts and information regarding municipal service impacts due to Hurricane Fiona, visit our website or follow @hfxgov on Twitter.
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**** EMO Release
Hurricane Fiona Update
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The following is a provincial hurricane Fiona update for today, September 25:
Hurricane Fiona made landfall in Nova Scotia shortly after 3 a.m. on Saturday, September 24. The effects appear to be greatest in Cape Breton, and damage assessments and recovery efforts are underway.
The provincial Emergency Management Office (EMO) is monitoring the impact of the storm and providing regular updates. The EMO Provincial Coordination Centre moved to a Level 3 activation – the highest level – Saturday at 7 a.m.
People who are experiencing issues with their phone service may also have issues dialing 911. Staff at the Provincial Coordination Centre and other provincial officials are in close contact with Nova Scotia’s telecommunications providers and the federal government to support the providers in restoring services to everyone.
The list of open comfort centres and shelters has been updated to include more locations in Cape Breton: https://novascotia.ca/alerts/comfort-centres-and-shelters/ . People can also check with their local municipality or call 211 for information on comfort centres and shelters.
In the aftermath of the storm, Nova Scotians are asked to:
— continue monitoring local media outlets for weather and safety updates
— stay off roads and away from downed power lines so crews can safely remove trees and debris and restore lines
— stay out of provincial campgrounds, beaches and day-use parks, which are all closed
— give emergency vehicles priority at gas stations for re-fuelling
— call 211 if they need assistance with home oxygen maintenance
— only call 911 in emergency situations
— check on their neighbours to ensure people have what they need to stay safe
— obey all traffic markers and do not attempt to go around or remove any barricades, barrels or traffic cones that are in place to protect motorists from entering potentially dangerous sites, and to protect employees working to clear sites or restore power.
There continues to be widespread power outages across the province. Nova Scotians can report any new outages and check on estimated restoration times at: http://outagemap.nspower.ca/ . While the power is out, people are reminded:
— food in fridges and freezers can become a health risk when the power is out for an extended period; more information is available at: https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/food-protection/docs/factsheet-poweroff.pdf
— floodwater can also impact food safety; more information is available at: https://www.novascotia.ca/nse/food-protection/docs/factsheet-flood.pdf
— Nova Scotians who get their drinking water from untreated, non-municipal water sources such as lakes, rivers and streams should boil their water for one minute before consumption; consuming this water is never recommended
— well pumps in homes that are flooded can cause electrocution
— generators, barbecues and charcoal grills should never be used indoors or inside garages, even if the doors or windows are open, as they may cause carbon monoxide poisoning
— do not leave lit candles unattended.
People should avoid travelling, and use caution if travel is necessary. Information on road conditions and flights is available at:
— road conditions: https://511.novascotia.ca/en/index.html
— Halifax Stanfield International Airport: https://halifaxstanfield.ca/flight-information/arrivals/
— J.A. Douglas McCurdy Sydney Airport: http://www.sydneyairport.ca/
Quick Facts:
— crews are delivering additional fuel to gas stations
— on Saturday, September 24, Emergency Health Services, which provides ground and air ambulance services, received its highest one-day call volume ever recorded
— more than 200 people in Cape Breton Regional Municipality were evacuated from various properties due to fallen trees and damage to property
— more than 800 powerline technicians, forestry technicians and damage assessors are actively working across the province
— Nova Scotia Power has restored power to more than 241,000 customers since Saturday
