State of Emergency Continues

EMERGENCY MEASURES ORGANIZATION– State of Emergency Continues

Virtually all Nova Scotia highways remain closed and the provincial state of emergency continues today, Feb. 20, as the province begins digging out from one of the worst winter storms in memory.

Nova Scotians are being directed to stay off the highways to allow cleanup crews to work. All federal, provincial and Halifax Regional Municipality (HRM) government offices are closed.

"We seem to have been through the worst of it," said Ernest Fage, Minister responsible for the Emergency Measures Organization. "But we need to stay put and give work crews time and room to clean highways and thoroughfares. People will need to be patient."

Provincial and HRM snowplows are back on the job this morning. They were taken off the road overnight because of whiteout conditions and the number of abandoned vehicles on highways and ramps. Dispatch centres for Nova Scotia Power and the Department of Transportation and Public Works have been linked so Nova Scotia Power vehicles can get to feeder lines. Work crews are also helping ensure that rural area routes are opened for fire, police and other emergency services.

Further snowfall amounts of up to 10 centimetres are possible today over eastern areas of the province. Shearwater registered a snowfall of 95 centimetres with peak wind gusts to 83 km/h. Flooding in the storm-surge areas has subsided and no major problems have been reported.

At a glance:

• Nova Scotia Power reports only about 1,000 without power in HRM;
• Metro Transit buses in HRM are not running. This will be re-evaluated later today;
• Metro area ferries are not operating. This will be re-evaluated later this morning.

Further updates will be provided throughout the day. Residents are reminded to listen to media reports for further updates.