**** Various Media Releases
Residents asked to remain off municipal roads
Clean-up efforts are currently underway across the municipality and residents are asked to remain off the roads for non-essential travel while work crews focus on priority areas.
While the storm has left the region, crews continue to clear streets and sidewalks, starting with the urban core and spanning out across the region. This work requires crews to be focused on debris removal efforts and having residents out on the streets makes this work more difficult.
It is critical streets are clear of motorists as this will aid emergency first responders who may need to adjust their routes due to debris and blocked streets.
Transportation and Public Works staff will be assisted in their efforts by external service providers to supplement their clean-up efforts.
Halifax Transit is also continuing to suspend service on all routes, including the ferries, for the remainder of the day. And update on the status of service for Monday will be provided later today.
All municipal parks will remain closed today. Staff will be assessing damage throughout the day to see which ones can reopen and when.
Some municipally owned recreation facilities remain without power and will continue to stay closed. Please contact your local facility directly to confirm status of operations and programming.
The Red Cross continues to operate three comfort centres for those displaced during the storm. The locations include St. Margarets Centre, Canada Games Centre, and Dartmouth East Community Centre.
A comfort centre has also been opened In Moser River by the municipality’s Joint Emergency Management volunteers.
For those currently without power, residents are encouraged to turn off all tools, appliances and electronic equipment, and turn the thermostat(s) for the home heating system down to minimum to prevent damage from a power surge when power is restored.
Residents who see significant debris blocking streets, or other safety issues, as a result of the storm should call 311 to provide details for staff.
Please visit Halifax.ca or follow @hfxgov on Twitter for all storm-related updates
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT OFFICE–Hurricane/Post-tropical Storm Dorian
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The following is a provincial update for Sunday, Sept. 8 at 9 a.m.
— Nova Scotians are asked to stay off roads and stay away from downed power lines so crews can safely remove trees and debris and restore lines
— approximately 378,000 Nova Scotia Power customers are without power. Crews are now working in the southwest area of the province where weather conditions have improved
— Halifax Harbour bridges are now open
— all Halifax International Airport flights are cancelled until 9:30 a.m. this morning. For flight information visit https://halifaxstanfield.ca/flight-information/arrivals/
— Nova Scotians are asked to call 211 to find the nearest comfort centre
— Halifax Regional Municipality continues to have three shelters open. Visit https://www.halifax.ca/fire-police/fire/emergency-management/hurricanes
— when the power is out, food in fridges and freezers can become a health risk. Flood water can also impact food safety. To ensure your food and water are safe check out https://novascotia.ca/emergency/ for information
— Nova Scotians who are getting their drinking water from untreated, non-municipal water sources, such as directly from lakes, rivers and streams, should boil their water for one minute before consumption. Consuming this water is not recommended under normal circumstances
— well pumps in homes that are flooded can cause electrocution
— generators, BBQs and charcoal grills should never be used indoors or inside garages, even if the doors or windows are open as they cause carbon monoxide poisoning
— do not leave candles unattended
— Nova Scotians are asked to check on their neighbours to ensure they have what they need to remain safe
Halifax Water – Dorian Update #2
(Sunday, September 8, 2019 – 5:00 AM) – With improved weather conditions, Halifax Water dispatched crews to priority locations within Halifax Regional Municipality at 12:00 AM this morning (Sunday, September 8, 2019).
Halifax Water is working closely with fuel suppliers to ensure priority water, wastewater and stormwater infrastructure, such as water supply plants, wastewater treatment facilities, and pump stations remain on back-up power.
Halifax Water’s water supply plants continue to produce high quality drinking water. Where water service is unavailable due to electrical outages, Halifax Water continues to work to restore service in conjunction with Nova Scotia Power.
Halifax Water’s wastewater treatment facilities continue to function as intended under high-flow conditions.
Halifax Water’s Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) is in operation on a 24 hour basis throughout the storm. Halifax Water staff are also working with the Municipal Emergency Management Office to coordinate efforts as required.
For water, wastewater and stormwater/flooding related issues, customers should call our Customer Care Centre at 902-420-9287 or email customercare@halifaxwater.ca, check www.halifaxwater.ca, Twitter @HalifaxWater and Facebook.
Due to increased call and email volumes during this severe weather event, please expect some delays in response. If you are calling about basement flooding or a sewer back-up please contact your property insurance company right away. You can also visit https://halifaxwater.ca/basement-flooding-sewer-backup for more information.
