Thursday, September 29, 2022 (Halifax, NS) – The Halifax Regional Municipality is advising residents of the following updates and impacts to municipal services as a result of Hurricane Fiona.

Safety at home

The municipality is aware that there are several residents who have experienced significant damage to their homes and are still without power. If a resident has a safety concern with any electrical or water damage to their home, they can call 311 and request that a member of the Halifax Regional Fire & Emergency team come to their residence to do a visual assessment of the property to ensure there are no safety issues. Note that this is only for health and safety concerns with electrical or water hazards, it is not intended for any other purpose.

Tree waste clearing, catch basins and drop off locations

Motorists are reminded to avoid non-essential travel as crews are working around the clock to clear downed trees, brush and branches. Residents are also reminded to be mindful that there are still numerous streetlights not working due to power outages and to respect rules of the road.

Residents are asked to assist with clearing catch basins near their homes, if it is safe to do so, to reduce flooding and improve road safety.

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.

Until 8:00 p.m. on 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 (the gravel lot between the Canada Games Centre and Nova Scotia Soccer League), 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

No municipal solid waste collection services will take place on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, Friday, September 30. Curbside collection of garbage, organics or recyclables normally scheduled for Friday, September 30 will occur on the following day, Saturday, October 1.

Due to road clearing operations and impacts to solid waste facilities, curbside collection was cancelled on Monday, September 26 and Tuesday, September 27 on the Halifax Peninsula. A supplemental green cart collection will occur in these areas on Monday, October 3 and Tuesday, October 4.

Residents in the Prospect Road area – Goodwood, Hatchet Lake, Brookside, Whites Lake, Prospect Bay, and Terence Bay – whose collection was cancelled on Wednesday, September 28 will receive a supplemental green cart collection and double the garbage bag limit on Wednesday, October 12.

Residents are reminded that if their street is not passable for collection vehicles, solid waste may not be collected. For more information visit halifax.ca/recycle.

For all residents, the municipality is currently accepting twice the amount of tree waste bundles for organics collection. Residents may set out 10 tree waste bundles as part of their scheduled organics collection day. 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 six bags of garbage for curbside collection. Residents may substitute up to five bags of garbage with bags or bundles of construction debris (such as lumber, old roofing, and drywall) for a total of six 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

There is a comfort centre open at the Findlay Recreation Centre (26 Elliot Street, Dartmouth) on Thursday, September 29. This comfort centre will be closed as of Friday, September 30.

The status of any municipal comfort centre continues to be adjusted according to changing circumstances and different locations may be opened, moving forward, if necessary.

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 food insecurity or other related challenges is encouraged to contact 211 for support.

Evacuation centre

The evacuation centre located at the Canada Games Centre (26 Thomas Raddall Drive, Halifax) has closed and residents have moved to the Chocolate Lake Recreation Centre (1014 Purcells Cove Road, Halifax). This location will remain open until Sunday, October 2 when residents will be relocated by the Province of Nova Scotia to alternate accommodations.

An evacuation centre is a type of emergency facility where evacuees are received, needs are identified, and food and overnight shelter is provided.

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 were affected by the hurricane and to provide supports where needed.

Parks and Recreation Centres

Ball diamonds and sport fields have reopened as of Thursday, September 29. Residents are advised to check the sport field conditions webpage for further information.

Residents are asked to continue to exercise caution in parks, due to downed branches and trees.

Most recreation centres are open for regular programs and rentals. If facilities do not have power, or are required as comfort centres, they may not be open for programs and rentals. Residents are advised to call ahead to their local recreation centre for updates. Contact information for municipally-operated facilities is available online.

Parking

Overnight street cleaning enforcement is currently suspended and will resume Monday, October 3. Residents are still encouraged to move their vehicles off-street as they are able, to assist with crews clearing tree waste. All other posted signage and parking restrictions including paid parking will be enforced.

On-street paid parking will be free on Friday, September 30. Motorists are reminded to abide by other posted signage, including no stopping, accessible parking spaces and no parking zones.

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.

Source: Release