Military set to aid Newfoundland
Sept 24, 2010 11:46:21 GMT -5
Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Sept 24, 2010 11:46:21 GMT -5
Well, it's a start. I'm hoping more publicity about the damage Igor caused will bring more national support.
Skilly, I dare say you're going to be busy for a while. Hats off to you buds!
=============================================================
Military set to aid Igor-stricken Newfoundland
Devastating hurricane described as Newfoundland's worst in generations
Last Updated: Friday, September 24, 2010 | 1:55 PM NT CBC News
The Department of National Defence was preparing Friday to help Newfoundland communities devastated by Hurricane Igor, CBC News has learned.
A DND official said the department was "pre-positioning resources" in case it gets "a request for assistance."
Three naval ships were being readied to depart at short notice once such a request is received, loaded with Sea King helicopters, generators, supplies and personnel to reach stranded Newfoundlanders whose roads were washed out by Tuesday's massive flooding.
The move came as Prime Minister Stephen Harper set out to survey some of the worst damage brought to eastern Newfoundland by Hurricane Igor, which experts now describe as a historic weather disaster.
Meanwhile, an official at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick confirmed it has sent 12 members of its reconnaissance team to the province. (excellent!)
On Friday, Harper, who has already offered federal emergency assistance to Newfoundland and Labrador, was visiting Trouty and Britannia, two Trinity Bay communities that were among Igor's casualties on Tuesday.
Premier Danny Williams, who will join Harper and Senator Fabian Manning on Friday afternoon's tour, said the level of damage he saw during a tour Wednesday was shocking, particularly at Random Island, a 35-kilometre-long island nestled into the west side of Trinity Bay.
Williams visited Britannia, where 80-year-old Alan Duffett was swept away with rock and debris to the sea when a road gave way beneath his feet during the height of Tuesday's storm. Searchers have been unable to find any sign of Duffett's body.
"When we finally got down to the area of the island where the gentleman lost his life, that was just a terrible scene," Williams said. "It was completely gouged and torn away."
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is unofficially expecting the tally of Igor's damage to reach $100 million. While emergency road connections are being made, Williams said long-term solutions will take time.
"It's going to be a month, three weeks to a month, before we get all the transportation issues dealt with," he said.
Igor, which crumbled highways and bridges and knocked out power to tens of thousands of people, continued to leave thousands of people stranded Friday, with shortages of gas, food and other supplies becoming increasingly pronounced.
"There are no hurricanes/post-tropical events of this magnitude striking Newfoundland in the modern era," Environment Canada said in a statement.
"In statistical terms, this was effectively a 50- to 100-year event, depending on how one chooses to define it."
The Trans-Canada Highway, which on Thursday was closed at two different sections, was open Friday, although motorists were told that travel would be slow near new repairs at Terra Nova National Park, where Igor ripped open a crater on the sole route through the Cobblers Brook area.
All schools on the Burin and Bonavista peninsulas remained closed Friday. Most schools on the Avalon Peninsula, however, were able to open, largely because power was restored.
About 5,300 households and businesses were still without power on Friday morning, although Newfoundland Power crews made steady progress restoring service.
In St. John's, only three streets remain closed.
"We're getting down to a short list, finally," said Paul Mackey, the city's manager of public works. "We're making headway."
Mackey said the city's emphasis remains the clearing of countless numbers of fallen trees and branches from streets and public areas.
www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/09/24/hurricane-igor-harper-924.html
Skilly, I dare say you're going to be busy for a while. Hats off to you buds!
=============================================================
Military set to aid Igor-stricken Newfoundland
Devastating hurricane described as Newfoundland's worst in generations
Last Updated: Friday, September 24, 2010 | 1:55 PM NT CBC News
The Department of National Defence was preparing Friday to help Newfoundland communities devastated by Hurricane Igor, CBC News has learned.
A DND official said the department was "pre-positioning resources" in case it gets "a request for assistance."
Three naval ships were being readied to depart at short notice once such a request is received, loaded with Sea King helicopters, generators, supplies and personnel to reach stranded Newfoundlanders whose roads were washed out by Tuesday's massive flooding.
The move came as Prime Minister Stephen Harper set out to survey some of the worst damage brought to eastern Newfoundland by Hurricane Igor, which experts now describe as a historic weather disaster.
Meanwhile, an official at Canadian Forces Base Gagetown in New Brunswick confirmed it has sent 12 members of its reconnaissance team to the province. (excellent!)
On Friday, Harper, who has already offered federal emergency assistance to Newfoundland and Labrador, was visiting Trouty and Britannia, two Trinity Bay communities that were among Igor's casualties on Tuesday.
Premier Danny Williams, who will join Harper and Senator Fabian Manning on Friday afternoon's tour, said the level of damage he saw during a tour Wednesday was shocking, particularly at Random Island, a 35-kilometre-long island nestled into the west side of Trinity Bay.
Williams visited Britannia, where 80-year-old Alan Duffett was swept away with rock and debris to the sea when a road gave way beneath his feet during the height of Tuesday's storm. Searchers have been unable to find any sign of Duffett's body.
"When we finally got down to the area of the island where the gentleman lost his life, that was just a terrible scene," Williams said. "It was completely gouged and torn away."
The Newfoundland and Labrador government is unofficially expecting the tally of Igor's damage to reach $100 million. While emergency road connections are being made, Williams said long-term solutions will take time.
"It's going to be a month, three weeks to a month, before we get all the transportation issues dealt with," he said.
Igor, which crumbled highways and bridges and knocked out power to tens of thousands of people, continued to leave thousands of people stranded Friday, with shortages of gas, food and other supplies becoming increasingly pronounced.
"There are no hurricanes/post-tropical events of this magnitude striking Newfoundland in the modern era," Environment Canada said in a statement.
"In statistical terms, this was effectively a 50- to 100-year event, depending on how one chooses to define it."
The Trans-Canada Highway, which on Thursday was closed at two different sections, was open Friday, although motorists were told that travel would be slow near new repairs at Terra Nova National Park, where Igor ripped open a crater on the sole route through the Cobblers Brook area.
All schools on the Burin and Bonavista peninsulas remained closed Friday. Most schools on the Avalon Peninsula, however, were able to open, largely because power was restored.
About 5,300 households and businesses were still without power on Friday morning, although Newfoundland Power crews made steady progress restoring service.
In St. John's, only three streets remain closed.
"We're getting down to a short list, finally," said Paul Mackey, the city's manager of public works. "We're making headway."
Mackey said the city's emphasis remains the clearing of countless numbers of fallen trees and branches from streets and public areas.
www.cbc.ca/canada/newfoundland-labrador/story/2010/09/24/hurricane-igor-harper-924.html
