**** HRM Media Release
Municipal post-storm update – September 26, 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 waste clearing and drop off locations
Crews are working around the clock to clear downed trees, brush and branches.
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.
Trees located on private property are the sole responsibility of the homeowner. The municipality is not responsible for removing tree waste and brush from private property.
From Wednesday, September 28 to Wednesday, October 5, there will be a total of eight short-term tree waste drop-offs at the following locations from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:
- 2 Lyle Street, 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
- Bayer’s Lake Industrial Park, 230 Horseshoe Lake Drive, Halifax
Please note that the drop off location previously announced at 144 Thornhill Drive, Dartmouth is closed.
There is no charge for using this service for tree waste. Residents will be responsible for delivering and unloading all tree waste, brush and branches at these sites at their own risk. Construction debris, bags or other waste will not be accepted at these locations.
Residents can dispose of construction debris at Halifax C&D Recycling Ltd. at 16 Mills Drive, Goodwood or 188 Ross Road, Dartmouth (cash-only payments at the Dartmouth location). This is a private business, and fees apply for disposal. For more information visit halifaxcdrecycling.ca.
Residents are also asked to report downed municipal signs, crosswalk lights and streetlights to 311.
Solid Waste Collection
Due to road clearing operations and impacts to solid waste facilities, curbside solid waste collection is cancelled for Tuesday, September 27 in the Halifax peninsula area. A supplemental green cart collection for this area will occur on Tuesday, October 4. As per the normal schedule, all other areas will receive regular curbside collection of solid waste on Tuesday, September 27.
If your street is not passable for collection vehicles, your solid waste may not be collected on Tuesday, September 27. For more information, please contact 311.
Curbside collection was cancelled for Monday, September 26 in the Halifax peninsula area, with a supplemental green cart collection occurring on Monday, October 3.
Beginning Tuesday, September 27, the municipality is accepting twice the amount of tree waste bundles for organics collection. Residents may set out 10 tree waste bundles as part of their organics collection. Tree waste 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.
Single-unit homes are allowed a maximum of 6 bags of garbage for curbside collection. Residents may substitute up to 5 bags of garbage with bags or bundles of construction debris (such as lumber, old roofing, and drywall) for a total of 6 bags of garbage and bundles for collection. No bundles can exceed 75 pounds and no individual piece can be more than four feet long. No construction debris is permitted for collection from multi-unit dwellings.
Comfort centres
Comfort centres are currently open at the following locations:
- Prospect Road Community Centre, 2141 Prospect Road, Hatchet Lake | 1 to 5 p.m.
- Royal Canadian Legion Branch #58, 23566 Nova Scotia Trunk 7, Sheet Harbour | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Moser River Community Hall, 28975 Highway 7 | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
- Beaver Bank Kinsac Community Centre, 1583 Beaver Bank Road, Beaver Bank | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Musquodoboit Valley Bicentennial Theatre, 12390 Highway 24, Middle Musquodoboit | 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Fairview Family Resource Centre, 6 Titus Street, Halifax | 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Fire Station 62, 2417 Old Sambro Road, Williamswood | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Fire Station 56, 8579 St. Margarets Bay Road, Black Point | Noon to 6 p.m.
- North Preston Community Centre, 44 Simmonds Road, North Preston | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Findlay Community Centre, 26 Elliot Street, Dartmouth | Noon to 9 p.m.
- Eastern Shore Community Centre (Musquodoboit Harbour Arena), 67 Park Road, Musquodoboit Harbour | 9 a.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 community/communities have been impacted. Comfort centres are generally located in designated municipal facilities where they exist and where resources, such as generators are available. The hours vary depending on the type of impact on communities.
Comfort centres provide food and water, as well as a place to charge devices and receive up-to-date information, when residents are impacted by prolonged power outages, extreme temperatures or other significant events.
Residents are asked to continue to check on their neighbours and friends. Anyone experiencing experiencing food insecurity or other challenges is encouraged to contact 311 for support.
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
Outreach workers, including municipal staff, continue to conduct wellness checks on those experiencing homelessness in our community to determine how they fared during the hurricane and providing supports where needed.
Municipal offices
As the municipality continues to assess and respond to the impacts of Hurricane Fiona, safety is our top priority. All municipal offices will continue to be closed on Tuesday, September 27; 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 have reopened. Ball diamonds and sport fields will remain closed on Tuesday, September 27.
The Halifax Public Gardens will reopen on Tuesday, September 27.
Most recreation facilities that are not being used for essential services (e.g. comfort centres or evacuation centres) will remain closed today, Monday, September 26 and Tuesday, September 27. Residents are advised to call ahead to their local recreation centre for updates. Contact information for municipally-operated facilities is available online.
Due to safety concerns, Shubie Park and Point Pleasant Park will remain closed today, September 26, given the presence of fallen trees, as well as broken and hanging branches. Residents are encouraged to use caution as there may be barricaded sections where park staff will be conducting tree work. Both parks will reopen on Tuesday, September 27. Residents are still strongly advised to avoid visiting other municipal parks until any damage has been addressed, which may take several days.
Please exercise caution in Sir Sandford Fleming Park, which also has many downed trees and branches.
Camp Hill and Fairview Lawn cemeteries are closed today, Monday September 26. Camp Hill Cemetery will reopen on Tuesday, September 27. Fairview Lawn Cemetery will be closed on Tuesday, September 27 to allow for tree work and free movement of equipment around the cemetery. Fairview Lawn will reopen on Wednesday, September 28. Scheduled burials will be permitted on Tuesday, September 27 at Fairview Lawn Cemetery.
Halifax Transit
All Halifax Transit bus, Access-A-Bus and ferry services have resumed.
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.
Parking
Overnight street cleaning enforcement has been suspended for the rest of the week resuming Monday, October 3. Residents are still encouraged to move their vehicles off-street as they are able, to assist with crews clearing tree debris. All other posted signage and parking restrictions including paid parking will be enforced.
Regional Council meetings
The Regional Council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 27 will be rescheduled for Thursday, September 29 at 1:30 p.m.
The Heritage Hearings and the Public Hearing for Case 22257 (Regional Plan Review: Phase 3) originally on the agenda for this meeting are being rescheduled for dates that will meet legislative requirements for public notification. Confirmed dates for the hearings will be shared once details are available.
District Boundary Review
The District Boundary Review meeting scheduled for Tuesday, September 27 and the engagement sessions scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 28 at the Sackville Public Library and Thursday, Sept. 29 at the Captain William Spry Community Centre have been postponed.
Halifax Public Libraries
For the latest information on the status of all Halifax Public Library locations and services, please visit their website.
Burn ban
The temporary burn ban implemented has been lifted.
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.
